Retractable Stylus Tip and Circumferential Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing styluses for touchscreens have limited interaction capabilities and poor ergonomics due to inadequate button design and positioning accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A stylus with a barrel containing a retractable electronic tip and multiple actuators positioned circumferentially on the barrel, allowing for independent actuation and improved ergonomics, along with communication components for enhanced interaction with touchscreens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators are added to the stylus, then interaction capabilities are increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple actuators are integrated within the barrel structure of the stylus, with each actuator nested within the barrel and positioned at different locations. This allows multiple interaction functions to be incorporated without significantly increasing the overall size or complexity of the stylus, as the actuators share the existing structural space.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylus is divided into distinct functional segments: a first part holding the electronic tip and a second part containing the actuators. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the integration of multiple actuators by organizing them in a structured manner within the second part.
2Reliability
If actuators are positioned on the second part of the barrel, then unintentional actuation is reduced, but the actuators are harder to access
Solution Approach 1:
Actuators are positioned in the circumferential direction around the barrel, utilizing the radial dimension. This allows users to access and actuate different actuators by rotating the stylus or using their thumb in different orientations, making actuators accessible without compromising the reduced unintentional actuation benefit of their positioned location.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuators are arranged asymmetrically in the circumferential direction, with specific positioning optimized for thumb actuation. This asymmetric arrangement allows users to naturally access actuators based on their hand orientation and thumb position, improving ease of operation while maintaining the reliability benefit of the second part positioning.
3Measurement precision
If the electronic tip is made retractable, then precision and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic tip is designed to be retractable, transitioning between extended and retracted states. This dynamic configuration allows the tip to be precisely positioned when extended for accurate touchscreen interaction, and safely retracted when not in use, improving positioning accuracy without permanently increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic tip is received within the barrel and can be extended through the opening when needed. This nesting arrangement allows the tip to be compactly stored within the barrel when retracted, and easily extended when required for precise interaction, achieving high positioning accuracy while minimizing the complexity increase through efficient use of existing space.
Data Source
AI summary
A stylus for a touchscreen may comprise a barrel extending in a longitudinal direction, the barrel comprising a first end comprising an opening and a second end, the first end and the second end being, in the longitudinal direction, opposite to one another, and a first part and a second part, the first part including the first end and the second part including the second end, a first electronic tip received at least in part in the barrel and configured to have at least an in-use configuration in which the first electronic tip protrudes from the first part of the barrel through the opening, and an energy harvesting device comprising at least two of an energy harvesting element, a transducer, or an energy storage device.