Stylus Tip Structure With Decoupled Ring Electrodes

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stylus technologies with conductive tip sections limit material choices and user experience, as they require specific conductive materials that differ significantly from traditional writing instruments, making it difficult for users to adapt to writing on touch screens with smooth surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A stylus design featuring a penholder with a tip section, a first ring electrode, and a second ring electrode, where the second electrode is closer to the tip, and an insulating material to decouple the electrodes, allowing for the emission of electrical signals to determine axial direction and angle of inclination, with options for multiple electrodes and insulating materials to enhance precision and user experience, including non-conductive tip structures like pencils and markers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conductive tip section is used to enable touch screen detection of axial direction and angle of inclination, then the touch screen can detect stylus position and orientation, but the material choices are limited and user experience deteriorates due to significant differences from traditional writing instruments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of axial direction and angle of inclinationVSAvoidmaterial choices for tip section

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stylus is divided into distinct functional segments: a non-conductive tip section for traditional writing experience and conductive ring electrodes for detection. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function independently - the tip provides familiar writing characteristics while the ring electrodes enable precise axial direction and angle detection through electrical signals emitted to the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive ring electrodes act as intermediaries between the non-conductive tip section and the touch screen detection system. These ring electrodes emit electrical signals that carry information about axial direction and angle of inclination to the touch screen, enabling detection without requiring the tip section itself to be conductive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a conductive tip section is used to enable touch screen detection, then axial direction and angle of inclination can be detected, but the stylus requires significant adaptation time for users due to differences from traditional pens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of axial direction and angle of inclinationVSAvoiduser adaptation to writing on touch screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stylus is divided into distinct functional segments: a non-conductive tip section for traditional writing experience and conductive ring electrodes for detection. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function independently - the tip provides familiar writing characteristics while the ring electrodes enable precise axial direction and angle detection through electrical signals emitted to the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tip section uses traditional writing instrument materials (pencil lead, ballpoint ink, fountain pen ink) that users are already familiar with from conventional pens and pencils. This material homogeneity with traditional writing instruments provides a familiar tactile and visual experience, reducing adaptation time while the ring electrodes handle the detection function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional writing instrument materials are used for the tip section, then user experience improves with familiar writing characteristics, but the touch screen cannot detect axial direction and angle of inclination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuse of traditional writing materialsVSAvoiddetection of axial direction and angle of inclination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stylus is divided into distinct functional segments: a non-conductive tip section for traditional writing experience and conductive ring electrodes for detection. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function independently - the tip provides familiar writing characteristics while the ring electrodes enable precise axial direction and angle detection through electrical signals emitted to the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive ring electrodes act as intermediaries between the non-conductive tip section and the touch screen detection system. These ring electrodes emit electrical signals that carry information about axial direction and angle of inclination to the touch screen, enabling detection without requiring the tip section itself to be conductive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10474254B2Tip structure of stylus for determining axial direction and angle of inclination of the stylus

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 EGALAX EMPIA TECH INC

AI summary

A stylus used to have a touch sensitive processing apparatus determine an axial direction and an angle of inclination which the stylus corresponds to a touch screen through electrical signal emitted by the stylus. The stylus includes: a penholder; a tip section on one end of the penholder; a first ring electrode surrounding the penholder; a second ring electrode surrounding the penholder, wherein the second ring electrode is closer to the tip section than the first ring electrode being, the first ring electrode and the second ring electrode are used to emit the electrical signal; and a first insulating material configured to have the first ring electrode electrically decouple the second ring electrode.