Pen-Type Electronic Apparatus with Non-Uniform Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pen-type electronic apparatuses experience sensitivity variations depending on the location of grip, leading to inconsistent performance.
Innovation Solution
A pen-type electronic apparatus is designed with a cylindrical housing, a pen shaft, a sheet-like pressure sensor wound around the grip portion, and a cushion material between the pen shaft and the pressure sensor or between the pressure sensor and the housing. The pressure sensor features a low-sensitivity region in the central portion of the grip, reducing sensitivity for pressure detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is used to detect grip position, then grip detection capability is improved, but sensitivity varies depending on grip location
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is designed with non-uniform sensitivity distribution, where the central portion has lower sensitivity and the peripheral portions have higher sensitivity. This local differentiation ensures that regardless of where the user grips the pen, the sensor provides consistent detection performance by compensating for the natural variation in pressure distribution across different grip locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensitivity parameter of the pressure sensor is deliberately changed across different regions. The central portion is designed with reduced sensitivity while peripheral areas maintain higher sensitivity, creating a sensitivity gradient that compensates for variations in grip position and ensures reliable detection across all grip locations.
2Area of stationary object
If the pressure sensor covers the entire grip portion, then detection coverage is improved, but false triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor employs regional differentiation in sensitivity, with the central portion having lower sensitivity to minimize false triggering from accidental contacts, while peripheral portions maintain higher sensitivity to ensure reliable grip detection. This local quality variation allows the sensor to cover the entire grip area without excessive false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly high sensitivity across the entire sensor area, the design uses partial high sensitivity concentrated in peripheral regions while the central region uses reduced sensitivity. This partial application of high sensitivity is sufficient for detecting intentional grips while avoiding the excessive sensitivity that would cause false triggering.
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 prevents sensitivity variations when the apparatus is gripped at different locations, ensuring consistent detection and reducing false triggering or missed inputs.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric sensor attached to the housing, and a detection unit that detects a held state of the housing using a variation amount of an output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor
Implementation Method 2
a sheet-like pressure sensor wound around a position overlapping with the grip portion on an outer surface of the pen shaft or an inner surface of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A pen-type electronic apparatus is provided that includes a cylindrical housing having a grip portion configured to be gripped by a user; a pen shaft housed inside the housing; a sheet-like pressure sensor wound around a position that overlaps the grip portion on an outer surface of the pen shaft or an inner surface of the housing; and a cushion material either between the pen shaft and the pressure sensor or between the pressure sensor and the housing. The pressure sensor has a low-sensitivity region in a central portion of the grip portion along a long axis direction of the pen shaft. The low-sensitivity region has a lower sensitivity for detecting pressure from the user than other regions of the pressure sensor.