Stylus Color Sensor with Adjustable Light Emitter for Surface Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic devices, such as styluses, lack the capability to effectively measure and transmit color and texture information of external objects in a manner that can be seamlessly integrated with touch-sensitive displays for applications like drawing programs, due to limitations in sensing technology and wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
A stylus device equipped with a color sensor having multiple photodetectors for different color channels, an adjustable light emitter, and an inertial measurement unit, which allows for wireless transmission of color, texture, and angular orientation data to companion devices like tablet computers, enabling accurate color sampling and texture measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color sensor with multiple photodetectors and adjustable light emitter is added to the stylus, then color sampling precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The color sensor is divided into multiple photodetectors, each sensitive to different wavelength ranges (e.g., red, green, blue channels). This segmentation allows precise color measurement through spectral decomposition while keeping each individual photodetector relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitter has an adjustable light spectrum that can be dynamically tuned to emit light at different wavelengths. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different measurement requirements and improve color sampling precision without requiring multiple fixed-wavelength light sources.
2Measurement precision
If texture measurement using glancing angle light is implemented, then texture measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures texture by analyzing light reflection at glancing angles rather than normal incidence. This dimensional change in measurement geometry allows the detection of surface micro-features and texture characteristics that would be invisible to normal-incidence sensors, thereby improving texture measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertial measurement unit measures angular orientation to determine the stylus's orientation relative to the surface. By changing the measurement parameter from position to angular orientation, the system can calculate glancing angles and derive texture information from reflected light patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless transmission of color and texture data is enabled, then data integration capability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the essential color and texture data through wireless communication, rather than transmitting all raw sensor data. This selective extraction reduces the data transmission volume and energy consumption while maintaining the necessary data integration capability for drawing applications.
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 precise color and texture data capture from external objects, enhancing drawing programs and other applications by providing accurate color palettes and surface characteristics, improving user interaction and data integration with electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a color sensing light detector having a plurality of photodetectors each of which measures light for a different respective color channel
Implementation Method 2
The light emitter may have an adjustable light spectrum
Implementation Method 3
An inertial measurement unit may be used to measure the angular orientation between the stylus and an external object
Data Source
AI summary
A device such as a stylus may have a color sensor. The color sensor may have a color sensing light detector having a plurality of photodetectors each of which measures light for a different respective color channel. The color sensor may also have a light emitter. The light emitter may have an adjustable light spectrum. The light spectrum may be adjusted during color sensing measurements using information such as ambient light color measurements made with a color ambient light sensor that has a plurality of photodetectors each of which measures light for a different respective color channel. An inertial measurement unit may be used to measure the angular orientation between the stylus and an external object during color measurements. Arrangements in which the light emitter is modulated during color sensing may also be used. Measurements from the stylus may be transmitted wirelessly to external equipment.