Pen Vibration Control for Tactile Feedback on Digital Traces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information processing systems using electronic pens to simulate handwriting on digital interfaces fail to adequately reproduce the tactile sensation, leading to discomfort when the pen crosses over drawing traces.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system comprising a pen and a tablet terminal that communicates to display movement traces and detect contact positions, using a vibration generator in the pen to output specific vibrations based on image data and contact positions, thereby enhancing the tactile experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibration is generated using the pen to reproduce tactile sensation, then the tactile sensation of writing on paper can be reproduced, but a feeling of discomfort occurs when the pen crosses over drawing traces
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration waveform is changed locally based on the pen's position relative to drawing traces. When the pen is detected to be crossing a trace, a specific waveform signal is added to the vibration waveform signal, creating a localized tactile feedback that mimics the resistance of writing over existing ink. This resolves the contradiction by providing appropriate tactile sensation only where needed (when crossing traces) rather than uniformly across all writing actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the pen's position and the drawing traces, and dynamically adjusts the vibration waveform in real-time based on this feedback. When the pen position intersects with a drawing trace, the system detects this condition and modifies the vibration signal accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the tactile sensation accurately reflects the physical act of writing over traces, eliminating the discomfort caused by inadequate tactile feedback in conventional systems.
2Reliability
If conventional vibration reproduction is used, then the system structure remains simple, but the tactile sensation reproduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the simple vibration generator and the user's tactile perception. The image transmission processing unit and vibration control unit act as mediators that analyze the relationship between pen position and drawing traces, then transform this information into appropriate vibration waveforms. This intermediary layer enables sophisticated tactile feedback without requiring complex hardware modifications, as the complexity is managed through software-based signal processing rather than mechanical complexity.
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 system effectively reduces the feeling of discomfort during pen input by accurately simulating the tactile sensation of writing, particularly when the pen crosses over drawing traces, through targeted vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration generator that outputs vibration based on a vibration waveform signal
Implementation Method 2
a touch sensor unit that detects a contact position of the pen on a screen of the display unit
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes: an information processing and a pen configured to communicate with the apparatus, in which the apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a movement trace of the pen, a touch sensor unit that detects a contact position of the pen on a screen of the display unit, a display processing unit that displays, on the display unit, the movement trace of the pen based on the contact position of the pen detected by the touch sensor unit, an image transmission processing unit that transmits, to the pen, image data displayed by the display unit and including the movement trace, and a position transmission processing unit that transmits, to the pen, the contact position of the pen detected by the touch sensor unit, and the pen includes a vibration generator that outputs vibration based on a vibration waveform signal.