Retractable Stylus Pen with Dynamic Cam Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stylus pens with reduced size are difficult to grip and use effectively, especially when detached from electronic devices, and often require complex two-step operations for storage and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A stylus pen design featuring a retractable head with a cylindrical housing that includes a grip mechanism, where the grip protrudes outwardly upon retraction of the head, and an elastic unit with a cam system to control the grip's movement, allowing for easy handling and storage by extending the length and grip with a single operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stylus pen size is reduced to fit smaller electronic devices, then the stylus pen can be mounted in compact devices, but the user finds it difficult to grip and use
Solution Approach 1:
The grip portion is designed to dynamically change its length based on the retraction state of the head. When the head is retracted, the grip portion extends to provide a comfortable gripping surface. When the head is extended, the grip portion retracts to allow precise control. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between compact size and grip comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip portion is nested within the cylindrical housing and can extend outward when needed. The elastic unit allows the grip to be stored within the housing body during storage, and deployed outward during use. This nesting mechanism allows the stylus to maintain a compact form factor while providing an extended grip when required.
2Ease of operation
If the stylus pen is designed with a retractable head and grip mechanism, then the operation complexity increases requiring multiple steps, but the grip comfort and handling ease improve
Solution Approach 1:
The operations of extending/retracting the grip and extending/retracting the head are merged into a single coordinated action. When the user pulls or pushes the head, both the head position and grip length change simultaneously through the cam mechanism. This combines multiple functions into one operation, reducing the number of steps required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism automatically controls the grip extension/retraction based on the head position without requiring separate user actions. The system self-regulates the grip length according to whether the head is extended or retracted, eliminating the need for the user to manually adjust the grip separately from the head.
3Reliability
If the stylus pen uses an elastic unit with cam mechanism for grip control, then the grip movement is precisely controlled, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism acts as an intermediary between the head position and the grip length. Instead of directly connecting the head movement to grip adjustment, the cam converts the linear motion of the head into the appropriate grip extension/retraction motion. This intermediary mechanism provides precise control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism changes the geometric parameters of the grip position based on the head retraction distance. As the head moves along its axis, the cam profile transforms this linear parameter change into the corresponding radial movement of the grip portion, achieving precise control through parameter transformation rather than complex mechanical linkages.
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 design enhances user convenience by providing a comfortable grip and simplifying the detachment and storage process, allowing for easy handling even when the stylus pen is small, and reduces the complexity of operations required for attachment and detachment.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic unit, including a body and a plate spring extending from the body by a predetermined length
Implementation Method 2
a cam formed on the moving body to selectively support the plate spring of the elastic unit depending on movement of the moving body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A stylus pen for inputting data of an electronic device includes a cavity type cylinder housing, a head, a moving body, and at least one grip. The cavity type cylinder housing has a tip for engaging with a touch screen at one end and the head is retractably installed at the other end of the cylinder housing. A moving body disposed within the cylinder housing and coupled to the head slidably moves depending on a retraction operation of the head. At least one grip is installed such that a portion of the grip is protudes outwardly from the cylinder housing depending on a movement direction of the moving body.