Stylus Capacitive Touch Sensor for Gesture Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties interacting with electronic equipment using traditional styluses, particularly when performing complex operations like object rotations and zooming, due to the need for cumbersome scrolling and multiple interactions with touch sensors.
Innovation Solution
A stylus with an elongated body featuring a capacitive touch sensor along its length and circumference, allowing for wireless transmission of touch input, including rotational information, and equipped with force sensors and other input-output devices that transition between operating modes based on user input and sensor signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a stylus is used for touch input, then drawing precision is improved, but scrolling and complex operations become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple input mechanisms into a single stylus device: a touch sensor on the stylus body detects finger touches, while electromagnetic signals from the tip enable precise drawing. This merging allows the user to perform both precise drawing and scrolling/zooming/rotation operations without switching devices, resolving the contradiction between drawing precision and scrolling ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylus is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse input needs. The touch sensor on the body enables scrolling and navigation, while the tip electrodes enable precise drawing and selection. The ability to perform complex operations like zooming and rotation through finger movements on the stylus surface makes the device universal for both precise input and navigation tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If stylus scrolling wheels are used, then scrolling function is added, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scrolling wheels with a capacitive touch sensor system. Instead of mechanical components that detect wheel rotation, the stylus uses capacitive electrodes that detect finger touch positions and movements on the stylus surface. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical structures while achieving scrolling, zooming, and rotation functions through electrical field detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor on the stylus body acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the electronic device. Rather than directly manipulating mechanical wheels, the user's finger touches the stylus surface, and the capacitive sensor translates these touch gestures into scrolling and navigation commands, simplifying the interaction mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If multiple interactions are required for complex operations, then operation precision is improved, but interaction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor on the stylus body is pre-configured to recognize specific finger gesture patterns that correspond to common operations like scrolling, zooming, and rotation. When the user places their finger on the stylus, the system is already prepared to interpret the gesture and execute the corresponding operation immediately, eliminating the need for multiple sequential interactions and reducing interaction time while maintaining precision.
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
Enhances user interaction by enabling efficient scrolling, complex operations, and mode transitions, improving usability and reducing the number of interactions required with electronic equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The touch sensor may be a capacitive touch sensor having capacitive touch sensor electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The touch sensor in the electronic equipment may receive electromagnetic signals from one or more electrodes at the first end
Data Source
AI summary
A stylus may have an elongated body with opposing ends. Electronic equipment may have a touch sensor that receives electromagnetic signals from one or more electrodes. The stylus may have a touch sensor on the elongated body. The touch sensor on the body may have electrodes that gather touch input and optional force input when the fingers of a user touch the stylus. The touch input may include touch gestures in which a user's fingers move along the length of the stylus and may include rotational information indicative of how the stylus is being rotated between the user's fingers. The stylus may have a force sensor that monitors how firmly the stylus is being pressed against external surface and may have other input-output devices. The stylus may transition between operating modes based on signals from the force sensor and other input-output devices in the stylus.