Movable Magnetic Components for User-Borne Device Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user-borne devices with magnetometers for location determination and tracking are inaccurate and unreliable due to certain arrangements of magnetometers and output devices, particularly in electronically passive devices without power sources or electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A user-borne device incorporating a first and second magnetically responsive component, where the second component can move translationally or rotationally relative to the first, altering a magnetic signature detectable by a plurality of magnetometers, allowing for identification and differentiation of device types and characteristics without electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user-borne device uses a single static magnetic component, then the device structure is simple, but the device type identification is inaccurate and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic system is segmented into multiple independent magnetic components (first magnetic component and second magnetic component) positioned at different locations along the elongate body. Each component contributes to the overall magnetic signature, enabling more precise device identification while maintaining a relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The second magnetic component is made movable relative to the first magnetic component, allowing it to change position along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic configuration enables the device to generate different magnetic signatures corresponding to different device types or functions, improving identification accuracy without requiring complex electronics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user-borne device includes movable magnetic components, then device type differentiation is enabled, but the mechanical structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The movement mechanism for the second magnetic component is integrated into the elongate body structure itself. The elongate body serves both as the structural housing and as the mechanical linkage that enables movement of the second magnetic component, merging structural and functional elements to reduce overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses its own magnetic field interactions and mechanical structure to achieve device type identification without requiring external power sources or electronic components. The movable magnetic component interacts with the magnetic field in a way that naturally produces distinguishable signatures for different device types.
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
Enables accurate and reliable identification and differentiation of user-borne devices, such as writing instruments, allowing for multiple functions and characteristics to be selected or changed, including mode detection and brand/user recognition, without the need for electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
measure a magnetic field associated with a magnetic object arranged in or coupled to the user-borne device
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the first and second magnetically responsive components is a permanent magnet
Data Source
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AI summary
A user borne device (100) for use with a digital device that incorporates a plurality of magnetometers (300), wherein the user borne device (100) comprises: - an elongate body (101) defining a longitudinal axis (L) of the user borne device (100), wherein the elongate body (101) comprises a proximal end (102) and a distal end (103); - a first magnetically responsive component (104) immovably disposed at, or near to, the proximal end (102) of the elongate body (101); and - a second magnetically responsive component (105) disposed along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis (L) of the user borne device (100) in-between the first magnetically responsive component (104) and the distal end (103) of the elongate body (101); - wherein the second magnetically responsive component (105) is configured to move translationally with respect to the first magnetically responsive component (104) and/or to move rotationally with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the user borne device (100); and - wherein at least one of the first and second magnetically responsive components (104, 105, 108) is a permanent magnet.