Pressure-Sensing Electronic Pen for Touch-Free VR Line Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic pens used in virtual reality environments lack the ability to control line width and transparency without an actual touch surface, as pen pressure sensors cannot detect pressure in such contexts.
Innovation Solution
A position indicating device with a housing, position indicator, first and second sensors for detecting pressures, and communication circuits to transmit these pressures, allowing an information processing device to control line width and transparency based on gripping force in virtual reality spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pen pressure sensor is used to detect pen pressure on a touch surface, then line width and transparency can be controlled according to pen pressure, but this method cannot be applied in virtual reality environments without an actual touch surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gripping force sensor as an intermediary device that detects the force applied by the user's grip on the electronic pen. This gripping force serves as a proxy for pen pressure, allowing the system to infer writing intensity without direct contact pressure detection. The gripping force sensor enables virtual reality environment compatibility while maintaining the ability to control line width and transparency through force-based measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct pen pressure (contact force between pen tip and surface) to gripping force (force applied by user's hand on the pen body). This parameter substitution allows the system to operate in virtual reality environments where no physical surface contact occurs, while still providing a measurable force value that correlates with writing intent and can control graphical output properties like line width and transparency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electronic pen is designed for touch surface interaction, then pen pressure can be detected, but the device cannot function in virtual reality spaces without a physical surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based pressure detection system with a force sensing system that measures gripping force through the pen body. This substitution eliminates the requirement for physical surface contact while maintaining the mechanical force measurement capability. The gripping force sensor captures the user's writing intent through hand grip strength, preserving the tactile feedback loop essential for natural writing experience in virtual reality environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the electronic pen's universality by enabling it to function in both traditional touch surface environments and virtual reality spaces. The gripping force sensor serves multiple purposes: it detects writing intensity for graphical output control, provides feedback for haptic rendering, and enables operation without physical surface contact. This multi-functional approach allows a single device design to serve diverse interaction contexts while maintaining ease of operation across platforms.
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 control of line width and transparency in virtual reality environments by correlating gripping force with pen pressure, mimicking the writing experience of traditional pens.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor which, in operation, detects a first pressure applied to the position indicator
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor which, in operation, detects a second pressure applied to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A position indicating device includes a housing, a position indicator which, in operation, indicates a position, a first pressure sensor which, in operation, detects a pressure applied to the position indicator, a second sensor which, in operation, detects a second pressure applied to the housing, a first communication circuit which, in operation, transmits the pen pressure detected by the pen pressure sensor, and a second communication circuit which, in operation, transmits the gripping force detected by the gripping force sensor. The position indicating device enables control of a line width and transparency in a preferable manner even when there is no actual touch surface.