Smart Pen Cartridge Biasing to Eliminate Friction Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart pens generate friction and click noise during writing, which compromises the quality of audio captured by the embedded audio recording device, as the design allows the writing cartridge to contact the internal cavity and lift from it, causing noise that is captured both mechanically and aurally.
Innovation Solution
A low-force biasing system, such as using a magnetic material for the writing cartridge, and digital signal processing methods to identify and remove click noise, are employed to attenuate friction and click noise. The biasing system keeps the writing cartridge aligned within the smart pen's internal cavity, while DSP methods analyze audio data to differentiate and eliminate click noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the internal cavity diameter is made sufficiently larger than the writing cartridge external diameter to allow free movement, then the writing cartridge can freely move in and out to activate the FSR, but the writing cartridge contacts the internal cavity during writing and lifting, generating friction and click noise
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the writing cartridge and the internal cavity. This biasing mechanism (such as a spring or magnetic force) keeps the writing cartridge pressed against a specific side of the internal cavity, preventing random contact with the cavity walls while still allowing the cartridge to move freely enough to activate the FSR sensor. The biasing mechanism mediates between the need for free movement and the need to prevent noise-generating contacts.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the writing cartridge is biased towards one side of the internal cavity to reduce noise contact, then friction and click noise are reduced, but the cartridge may not activate the FSR accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing force is carefully calibrated to change the operational parameters of the system. By adjusting the strength and direction of the biasing force (through spring constant selection, magnetic field strength, or biasing mechanism positioning), the system achieves the optimal balance where the writing cartridge is sufficiently biased to reduce noise contacts while maintaining enough freedom to reliably activate the FSR sensor when needed. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and activation reliability.
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 solution effectively reduces noise interference, maintaining the quality of audio recordings by minimizing friction and click noise, allowing for clearer capture of audio data during writing with the smart pen.
Implementation Method 1
the writing cartridge is comprised of a magnetic material, such as steel, and a magnet is embedded into a first side of the smart pen's internal cavity, biasing the writing cartridge towards one side of the bore
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for removing or attenuating friction and/or click noise generated during writing with a smart pen are disclosed. In a smart pen, the writing cartridge is biased towards a first side of the smart pen internal cavity by a low-force biasing system without affecting writing cartridge movement. For example, the writing cartridge is comprised of a magnetic material and a magnet is embedded into the first side of the smart pen internal cavity to bias the writing cartridge towards the first side. Alternatively, the material comprising the writing cartridge or smart pen internal cavity is modified, reducing friction between the components. As another alternative, a DSP method identifies analyzes one or more parameters of received audio data to differentiate click noise from audio data, and may receive data from a movement sensor indicating when the writing cartridge has moved to reduce power consumption for identifying click noise.