Stylus Nib Surface Layer for Foldable Screen Scratch Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Styluses cause wear and damage to foldable screens due to the lower surface hardness and abrasion resistance of materials like colorless polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate, which are used in foldable screens instead of glass.
Innovation Solution
A stylus with a nib featuring a surface modification layer made of polymer fiber, which has a hardness less than the main body, covering the nib to prevent scratches and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stylus with a hard nib is used to write on foldable screens, then the writing experience is improved, but the screen surface is damaged due to lower hardness of organic materials
Solution Approach 1:
The nib is designed with different hardness levels at different locations: the inner core material (tungsten carbide or ceramic) provides high hardness for structural integrity and writing performance, while the outer coating layer (diamond-like carbon or cubic boron nitride) provides extreme surface hardness specifically at the contact point with the screen. This local differentiation allows the nib to maintain overall hardness for good writing experience while having an ultra-hard surface layer that prevents screen damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The nib employs a composite structure combining multiple materials with complementary properties. The core uses tungsten carbide or ceramic for mechanical strength and hardness, while the surface is coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) or cubic boron nitride (CBN) which have exceptional hardness values. This composite approach allows the nib to simultaneously achieve the hardness needed for realistic writing feedback and the extreme surface hardness required to protect the softer organic screen materials from scratches and damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the nib hardness is increased to prevent screen damage, then screen protection is improved, but the writing realism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nib is designed with different hardness levels at different locations: the inner core material (tungsten carbide or ceramic) provides high hardness for structural integrity and writing performance, while the outer coating layer (diamond-like carbon or cubic boron nitride) provides extreme surface hardness specifically at the contact point with the screen. This local differentiation allows the nib to maintain overall hardness for good writing experience while having an ultra-hard surface layer that prevents screen damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The nib employs a composite structure combining multiple materials with complementary properties. The core uses tungsten carbide or ceramic for mechanical strength and hardness, while the surface is coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) or cubic boron nitride (CBN) which have exceptional hardness values. This composite approach allows the nib to simultaneously achieve the hardness needed for realistic writing feedback and the extreme surface hardness required to protect the softer organic screen materials from scratches and damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A stylus and an electronic device are disclosed. The stylus includes a nib, and the nib includes a main body and a surface modification layer. The surface modification layer covers the main body, and a hardness of the surface modification layer is less than a hardness of the main body, which can prevent scratches and damages to a touch display panel, thereby effectively extending a service life of the touch display panel.