Stylus Pen Color Feedback for Electronic Device Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with stylus pens face challenges in providing user feedback on battery state and wireless communication link status due to space and power consumption limitations, limiting the ability to distinguish between multiple stylus pens connected via short-range wireless communication.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a housing, display, wireless communication circuit, processor, and memory that establishes a wireless communication link with a stylus pen, receives color information, senses pen detachment, and performs a memo function to display strokes with defined colors based on received inputs, allowing for identification of connected stylus pens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic device establishes wireless communication links with multiple stylus pens, then the user can have multiple stylus pens available, but the device cannot receive input from all of them simultaneously due to power consumption and malfunction prevention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of connected stylus pensVSAvoidinput reception stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device provides feedback to the user by displaying information about which stylus pen is currently connected and active. This allows the user to understand the connection status and prevents confusion when switching between multiple stylus pens, thereby maintaining reliability while supporting multiple connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If the stylus pen includes a separate display to show battery state and communication link status, then the user can identify the connected stylus pen, but the mounting space and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation feedback to userVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display function is extracted from the stylus pen and relocated to the electronic device. The electronic device's display is used to show battery state, communication link status, and other information about the connected stylus pen, eliminating the need for a separate display on the stylus pen itself and reducing its power consumption and size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device acts as an intermediary between the stylus pen and the user for information display. Instead of the stylus pen directly displaying information to the user, the electronic device receives data from the stylus pen and presents it through its own display interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the electronic device does not provide information about the connected stylus pen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot identify which stylus pen is connected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation processing capabilityVSAvoidstylus pen identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device provides feedback to the user by displaying identification information about the connected stylus pen, such as color information or other distinguishing characteristics. This allows the user to easily identify which stylus pen is currently connected without adding significant complexity to the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Prevents malfunctions by enabling user identification of connected stylus pens and providing necessary feedback on battery state and communication link status, enhancing user interaction and device management.

Implementation Method 1

The stylus pen may interact with the electronic device through a short-range wireless communication protocol as well as an electromagnetic induction scheme

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11526219B2Device for outputting information linked with stylus pen connected to electronic device, and method related thereto

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device. The electronic device receives a signal including color information of the stylus pen from the stylus pen inserted into a housing, through the wireless communication circuit and the short-range wireless communication protocol, senses that the stylus pen is detached from the housing, performs a memo function associated with the stylus pen, receives at least one stroke input onto the display through the stylus pen, and displays at least one stroke with a color specified from the color information, in response to the received stroke input.