Electronic Pen Thickness Reduction via Extracted Variable Capacitor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic pens with pen pressure detection capabilities face design limitations due to the size of the variable capacitor, making it difficult to reduce the thickness and accommodate them in portable devices, such as tablet PCs, and to fit them into ball-point pen casings.
Innovation Solution
The electronic pen design incorporates a configuration where the ink writing section with a core body directly presses a pen pressure detector, allowing the pen pressure detector to be smaller than the ink writing section, and the ink writing section, connection member, and circuit board move together to transmit pressure, enabling a reduction in thickness while maintaining functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a variable capacitor is used for pen pressure detection, then pen pressure detection function is achieved, but the electronic pen thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the variable capacitor from the traditional pressing body structure and places it inside the hollow cylindrical core body. This allows the pressing body to be reduced to a thin-walled structure, significantly reducing the electronic pen thickness while maintaining the pen pressure detection function through the variable capacitor located elsewhere in the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable capacitor is nested within the hollow cylindrical core body structure, utilizing the internal space of the core body. This nesting arrangement allows the detection components to be integrated within the existing structural elements rather than adding external bulk, thereby reducing overall thickness.
2Reliability
If the variable capacitor is pressed by the core body, then pen pressure detection is enabled, but the variable capacitor diameter exceeds the core body diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the variable capacitor from the pressing body and relocates it to the hollow cylindrical core body. This separation allows the pressing body to have a minimal diameter suitable for writing, while the variable capacitor can be positioned within the hollow space without constraining the core body's external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the variable capacitor in the radial dimension (which would increase diameter), the patent positions it within the hollow cylindrical space, utilizing the internal volume along the axial dimension. This dimensional repositioning allows pressure detection without increasing the pen's external diameter.
3Length of moving object
If the electronic pen is reduced in thickness, then portability and usability are improved, but the variable capacitor cannot be properly pressed by the core body
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the variable capacitor from the pressing body structure, the patent enables the pressing body to be made thinner without compromising the detection mechanism. The variable capacitor is positioned to be pressed by the hollow cylindrical core body, which can maintain sufficient pressing force despite reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a spring mechanism that provides dynamic pressing force to the variable capacitor. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain reliable pressure detection even with reduced overall thickness, as the spring can compensate for smaller dimensional tolerances and maintain contact force.
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
This configuration allows for a thinner electronic pen that can be used for both paper recording and digital input, easily fitting into standard ball-point pen casings, enhancing portability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the detection of the pen pressure conducted with the electronic pen is performed using a variable capacitor
Implementation Method 2
an elastic body 505 which are provided inside a housing 506, with a pressing body 507 provided for pressing the elastic body 505
Implementation Method 3
transfer of a position detection signal between the electronic pen and the sensor by one of various coupling systems such as an electromagnetic induction coupling system
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic pen includes an ink writing section including a core body and an ink holding section configured to hold an ink that is supplied to the core body, a circuit board, a transmission section which, in operation, transmits a signal, a connection member including a first side that holds an end portion of the ink writing section, on a side of the ink writing section opposite to the core body, and a second side that holds a first end portion of the circuit board, a pen pressure detector provided adjacent to a second end portion of the circuit board, and a casing configured to accommodate the ink writing section, the connection member, the circuit board and the pen pressure detector such that a tip portion of the core body protrudes from the casing.