User-Borne Device with Flexible Ferromagnetic Tip for Magnetic Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in accurately and reliably tracking the location and orientation of passive user-borne devices, such as writing instruments, on interactive surfaces without saturating magnetically actuatable displays and ensuring sufficient magnetic strength for detection, while also providing a versatile tracing experience.
Innovation Solution
A user-borne device with a flexible tip made of ferromagnetic material that creates a focused magnetic field, allowing both digital and physical tracing by altering the magnetic signature detectable by magnetometers and actuatable display materials, enabling brush or calligraphy effects through pressure-dependent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic object is used in the user-borne device to create a magnetic field for detection, then the magnetic strength is sufficient for detection by magnetometers, but the magnetic field may saturate the magnetically actuatable material of the display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the magnetic field generation to a specific location - the flexible tip containing ferromagnetic material. This localized magnetic source provides sufficient field strength for magnetometer detection at the tip location without creating excessive magnetic field throughout the entire device that would saturate the display material. The magnetic field is locally concentrated where needed for detection rather than distributed throughout the whole device.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tip acts as an intermediary element between the magnetic object and the display surface. It focuses and directs the magnetic field to the interaction point while preventing excessive magnetic field strength from reaching the magnetically actuatable material in a saturating manner. The ferromagnetic material in the flexible tip mediates the magnetic field distribution, providing detectable field strength at the tip while protecting against saturation of the display material.
2Ease of manufacture
If a stiff tip is used in the user-borne device, then the structure is simple and strong, but it cannot provide brush or calligraphy effects with variable trace characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the static, rigid tip with a flexible tip that can dynamically change its shape and contact area with the display surface. The flexible tip deforms in response to user pressure, allowing the magnetic field distribution to change dynamically. This enables variable trace characteristics - when pressed harder, the tip deforms to create a larger magnetic field area, producing thicker traces similar to brush or calligraphy effects, while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Area of stationary object
If the magnetic field is distributed over a large area, then the physical tracing coverage is increased, but the magnetic signature becomes weaker and harder to detect by magnetometers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - concentrating the magnetic field source in the flexible tip at the point of contact with the display. When the user presses the device, the flexible tip deforms to locally increase the magnetic field area for physical tracing effects, while the magnetometers detect the concentrated magnetic signature from the ferromagnetic material. This localized concentration ensures reliable detection even when the overall tracing area varies.
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 achieves high-accuracy, versatile tracing with both digital and physical reproduction of movements, enhancing the tracing experience by adjusting trace thickness and opacity based on pressure and distance, without requiring power sources or processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible tip comprises ferromagnetic material. By having a flexible tip including ferromagnetic material, the magnetic field created by the magnetic object can be focused along the ferromagnetic material.
Implementation Method 2
This magnetic signature can directly alter a state of the magnetically actuatable material of the interactive electronic display.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a user borne device (100) for use with an electronic interactive display (200). The electronic interactive display (200) comprises a magnetically actuatable material (19A, 19B) and a plurality of magnetometers (230). The user borne device (100) comprises an elongate body (110), a magnetic object (120), and a flexible tip (130). The elongate body (110) defines a longitudinal axis (L) of the user borne device (100). The elongate body (110) comprises a proximal end (112) and a distal end (114). The magnetic object (120) is arranged between the proximal end (112) and the distal end (114). The magnetic object (120) is configured to create a magnetic field (123). The flexible tip (130) is arranged at the proximal end (112) and extends away from the proximal end (112) outside the elongate body (110). The flexible tip (130) comprises ferromagnetic material.