Shaped Pen Dock for Thin Tablets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thin information handling devices, such as tablets, face challenges in accommodating pen docks for larger diameter pens without increasing thickness, as conventional docking mechanisms disrupt the device's profile and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A shaped pen dock is integrated into the device's housing, curved to match the pen's shape and secured with magnets, allowing pens thicker than the device's width to be docked without adding bulk, maintaining the device's thin profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional pen dock is integrated into a thin device housing, then the device maintains its thin profile, but it cannot accommodate pens with larger diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the pen dock beyond the boundaries of the device housing in the lateral dimension, rather than attempting to fit the dock within the thin profile. This allows the dock to accommodate larger diameter pens while the device itself remains thin, as the extended dock portion protrudes from the device edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The pen dock is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion integrated within the device housing that maintains the thin profile, and a second portion that extends beyond the housing boundaries to provide the necessary diameter for accommodating larger pens. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function independently.
2Volume of moving object
If the device housing is made thinner, then the device becomes more portable and aesthetically pleasing, but the pen dock cannot securely hold larger diameter pens
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the docking stability function to the extended portion of the dock that protrudes from the device, rather than relying solely on the thin housing. The extended portion provides the necessary structural volume and surface area to securely hold larger diameter pens through magnetic or mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The dock exhibits different structural properties in different regions: the portion within the housing is thin and integrated, while the extended portion has increased diameter and structural capacity specifically at the location where pen contact occurs, providing localized stability without increasing overall device thickness.
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 the use of larger diameter pens on thin devices, enhancing user experience while maintaining the device's slim design and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
secured with magnets
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect provides an information handling device, including: one or more processors; a memory device that stores instructions executed by the one or more processors; and a housing that contains the one or more processors and the memory device; the housing having a substantially rectangular shape with a length and height dimension that exceed a width dimension; and the housing further comprising a shaped pen dock running along an end of the housing defining the width dimension. Other aspects are described and claimed.