TW202420043A - Stylus and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A stylus including a tip portion, a holding portion, and a holding force adjusting portion is provided. The holding portion located in a housing of the stylus holds the tip portion, so that the tip portion is suitable for rolling on a touch panel. The holding force adjusting portion is coupled to the holding portion, and the holding force adjusting portion dynamically adjusts a holding force of the holding portion on the tip portion, so as to change a friction force between the holding portion and the tip portion.

Description

Stylus and its operation method

The present invention relates to a touch device, and in particular to a touch pen with adjustable friction and an operating method of the touch pen.

The movement of the stylus on the touch panel can achieve the function of writing on paper. However, the writing feel of the stylus on the touch panel is still quite different from the writing feel on physical paper. How to improve the writing feel of the stylus on the touch panel is one of the many topics in this technical field.

The present invention provides a touch pen and an operation method thereof to change the writing feel of the touch pen on a touch panel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned touch pen includes a pen tip, a clamping part, and a clamping force adjustment part. The clamping part is located in the housing of the touch pen, the clamping part clamps the pen tip, and the pen tip is suitable for rolling on the touch panel. The clamping force adjustment part is coupled to the clamping part, and the clamping force adjustment part dynamically adjusts the clamping force of the clamping part on the pen tip to change the friction between the clamping part and the pen tip.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned operating method includes: the clamping part of the touch pen clamps the pen tip of the touch pen, wherein the pen tip is suitable for rolling on the touch panel, and the clamping part is located in the housing of the touch pen; and the clamping force adjustment part of the touch pen dynamically adjusts the clamping force of the clamping part on the pen tip to change the friction between the clamping part and the pen tip.

Based on the above, the stylus of various embodiments of the present invention can dynamically adjust the clamping force of the clamping part on the pen tip based on actual applications. When the clamping force changes, the friction between the clamping part and the pen tip is also dynamically changed, so that the user can feel different feedback forces when writing. Therefore, the stylus can change the writing feel of the stylus on the touch panel.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

The term "coupled (or connected)" used in the entire specification of this case (including the scope of the patent application) may refer to any direct or indirect means of connection. For example, if the text describes that a first device is coupled (or connected) to a second device, it should be interpreted that the first device can be directly connected to the second device, or the first device can be indirectly connected to the second device through other devices or some connection means. The terms "first", "second", etc. mentioned in the entire specification of this case (including the scope of the patent application) are used to name the elements or distinguish different embodiments or scopes, and are not used to limit the upper or lower limit of the number of elements, nor to limit the order of elements. In addition, wherever possible, elements/components/steps with the same number in the drawings and embodiments represent the same or similar parts. Elements/components/steps using the same reference numerals or the same terms in different embodiments may refer to each other for related descriptions.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of a stylus pen 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an operation scenario in which one end (pen tip) of the stylus pen 100 moves on a touch panel 10. The direction in which the stylus pen 100 moves on the touch panel 10 is assumed to be a moving direction D1 as shown in FIG. 1 . The stylus pen 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a clamping portion 110, a pen tip portion 120, and a clamping force adjustment portion 130 (not shown in FIG. 1 , and will be described in detail later). The clamping portion 110 is located in a housing 140 of the stylus pen 100.

FIG2 is a flowchart of a touch pen operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG1 and FIG2. The clamping portion 110 can clamp the pen tip portion 120 (step S210). When the touch pen 100 moves on the touch panel 10 along the moving direction D1, the pen tip portion 120 can roll on the touch panel 10, as shown in the situation in FIG1. In some embodiments, the pen tip portion 120 can include a pen tip roller, and the clamping portion 110 clamps the pen tip roller so that the pen tip roller rolls on the touch panel 10. In other embodiments, the pen tip portion 120 can include a pen tip roller or other geometric bodies.

The clamping force adjustment portion 130 is coupled to the clamping portion 110. In step S220, the clamping force adjustment portion 130 can dynamically adjust the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip portion 120 to change the friction between the clamping portion 110 and the pen tip portion 120. When the clamping force HF1 changes, the friction between the clamping portion 110 and the pen tip portion 120 is also dynamically changed, so that the user can feel different feedback forces when writing. Therefore, the touch pen 100 can change the pen feel of the touch pen 100 writing on the touch panel 10.

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a clamping portion 110 and a clamping force adjustment portion 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the clamping portion 110 includes a ball clamp 111 and a ball clamp 112, and the stylus pen 100 further includes a processing circuit 150. The ball clamp 111 has a fulcrum end 111a and an active end 111b. The ball clamp 112 has a fulcrum end 112a and an active end 112b. The pen tip portion 120 is located between the active end 111b and the active end 112b. The processing circuit 150 is coupled to the clamping force adjustment portion 130. Based on the driving and control of the processing circuit 150 , the clamping force adjustment unit 130 can drive the ball clamps 111 and 112 to apply the clamping force HF1 to the pen tip 120 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG3 , the clamping force adjustment portion 130 includes an electromagnetic iron 131 and an electromagnetic iron 132. The electromagnetic iron 131 and the electromagnetic iron 132 are disposed on both sides of the clamping portion 110, wherein the ball clamp 111 and the ball clamp 112 are located between the electromagnetic iron 131 and the electromagnetic iron 132, so that the pen tip portion 120 is located between the electromagnetic iron 131 and the electromagnetic iron 132. By adjusting the excitation current of the electromagnetic iron 131 and/or the electromagnetic iron 132, the processing circuit 150 can control/adjust the magnetic force MF3 between the electromagnetic iron 131 and the electromagnetic iron 132. Therefore, the electromagnet 131 and the electromagnet 132 can attract each other, so that the ball clamps 111 and 112 of the clamping portion 110 apply a clamping force HF1 to the pen tip 120. Based on the adjustment of the magnetic force MF3 by the processing circuit 150, the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip 120 can be dynamically adjusted to change the friction between the clamping portion 110 (ball clamps 111 and 112) and the pen tip 120.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a clamping portion 110 and a clamping force adjusting portion 130 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The clamping portion 110, the ball roller clamp 111, the ball roller clamp 112, and the processing circuit 150 shown in FIG. 4 can refer to the relevant description of the clamping portion 110, the ball roller clamp 111, the ball roller clamp 112, and the processing circuit 150 shown in FIG. 3 and can be deduced by analogy, so it is not repeated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the clamping force adjusting portion 130 includes an electromagnetic iron 133 and a ferromagnetic material portion 134. Based on the actual design, the ferromagnetic material portion 134 can include a magnet, an iron sheet, a nickel sheet, or other ferromagnetic materials. The electromagnetic iron 133 and the ferromagnetic material part 134 are arranged on both sides of the clamping part 110, wherein the ball clamps 111 and 112 are located between the electromagnetic iron 133 and the ferromagnetic material part 134, so that the pen tip part 120 is located between the electromagnetic iron 133 and the ferromagnetic material part 134. By adjusting the excitation current of the electromagnetic iron 133, the processing circuit 150 can control/adjust the magnetic force MF4 between the electromagnetic iron 133 and the ferromagnetic material part 134. Therefore, the electromagnetic iron 133 and the ferromagnetic material part 134 can attract each other, so that the ball clamps 111 and 112 of the clamping part 110 apply a clamping force HF1 to the pen tip part 120. Based on the adjustment of the magnetic force MF4 by the processing circuit 150 , the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip portion 120 can be dynamically adjusted to change the friction between the clamping portion 110 (ball clamps 111 and 112 ) and the pen tip portion 120 .

FIG5 is an example schematic diagram of a clamping portion 110 and a clamping force adjustment portion 130 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The clamping portion 110 and the processing circuit 150 shown in FIG5 can refer to the relevant description of the clamping portion 110 and the processing circuit 150 shown in FIG3 and be deduced by analogy, so they are not repeated here. In the embodiment shown in FIG5, the clamping portion 110 includes a ball clamp 113 and a ball clamp 114, and the stylus pen 100 further includes a processing circuit 150. The ball clamp 113 has a fulcrum end 113a and an active end 113b. The ball clamp 114 has a fulcrum end 114a and an active end 114b. The pen tip portion 120 is located between the active end 113b and the active end 114b. The processing circuit 150 is coupled to the clamping force adjustment unit 130 . Based on the driving and control of the processing circuit 150 , the clamping force adjustment unit 130 can drive the ball clamps 113 and 114 to apply the clamping force HF1 to the pen tip 120 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG5 , the clamping force adjustment portion 130 includes a motor mechanism 135 and a motor mechanism 136. The motor mechanism 135 and the motor mechanism 136 are disposed on both sides of the clamping portion 110, wherein the ball clamps 113 and the ball clamps 114 are located between the motor mechanism 135 and the motor mechanism 136. The motor mechanisms 135 and 136 can drive the ball clamps 113 and 114 to apply the clamping force HF1 to the pen tip portion 120. For example, by adjusting the driving current of the motor mechanisms 135 and 136 by the processing circuit 150, the motor mechanisms 135 and 136 can push/pull the ball clamps 113 and 114 respectively, so that the ball clamps 113 and 114 of the clamping portion 110 apply a clamping force HF1 to the pen tip 120. Therefore, based on the control of the motor mechanisms 135 and 136 by the processing circuit 150, the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip 120 can be dynamically adjusted to change the friction between the clamping portion 110 (ball clamps 113 and 114) and the pen tip 120.

FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit block of a touch pen 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The touch pen 100 of FIG6 includes a clamping force adjustment portion 130, a processing circuit 150, a communication device 160, a transmitter 170, and a receiver 180. The clamping force adjustment portion 130, the communication device 160, the transmitter 170, and the receiver 180 are coupled to the processing circuit 150. During the operation of positioning the touch pen 100 on the touch panel 10, the processing circuit 150 can send an electrical signal to the touch panel 10 through the transmitter 440, and the processing circuit 150 can receive an electrical signal from the touch panel 10 through the receiver 450. The touch panel 10 can detect information such as the coordinates and moving direction of the touch pen 100 on the touch panel 10 .

The clamping force adjustment unit 130 and the processing circuit 150 can refer to the relevant description of the clamping force adjustment unit 130 and the processing circuit 150 shown in Figures 1 to 5 and be deduced by analogy, so they are not repeated here. The processing circuit 150 can establish a wireless communication channel, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, etc., with the electronic device equipped with the touch panel 10 through the communication device 160. Therefore, the electronic device equipped with the touch panel 10 can transmit a resistance adjustment instruction to the processing circuit 150 through the wireless communication channel and the communication device 160, and the processing circuit 150 can control the clamping force adjustment unit 130 according to the resistance adjustment instruction to dynamically adjust the clamping force HF1 of the clamping unit 110 on the pen tip 120, thereby changing the friction between the clamping unit 110 and the pen tip 120.

FIG7 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the writing feel of a touch pen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flow chart shown in FIG7 can be one of many embodiments of step S220 shown in FIG2 . Please refer to FIG6 and FIG7 . In step S710, the processing circuit 150 can read the mode parameter corresponding to the material selected by the user. The mode parameter can be the mode parameter specified by the resistance adjustment instruction issued by the electronic device equipped with the touch panel 10. The touch pen 100 can be operated in the writing feel mode corresponding to the mode parameter to simulate the sliding of the touch pen 100 on the surfaces of different materials. For example, when the user selects writing feeling mode 1 corresponding to the canvas material, when the stylus pen 100 slides on the touch panel 10, the user can feel as if the stylus pen 100 is writing on the canvas material. When the user selects writing feeling mode 2 corresponding to the slate material, when the stylus pen 100 slides on the touch panel 10, the user can feel as if the stylus pen 100 is writing on the slate material. When the user selects writing feeling mode 3 corresponding to the wood material, when the stylus pen 100 slides on the touch panel 10, the user can feel as if the stylus pen 100 is writing on the wood material.

In step S720, the processing circuit 150 can control the clamping force adjustment unit 130 to dynamically adjust the clamping force HF1 of the clamping unit 110 on the pen tip 120 according to the selected writing feel mode. The processing circuit 150 can adjust the force variation frequency of the clamping force HF1 to simulate the sliding of the touch pen 100 on the surface of different materials. According to the mode parameter of step S710, the processing circuit 150 can control the clamping force adjustment unit 130 to dynamically adjust the force variation frequency of the clamping force HF1 of the clamping unit 130 on the pen tip 120 in step S720 to simulate the sliding of the touch pen 100 on the selected material surface.

FIG8 is a diagram showing an operation scenario of switching the touch pen 100 to different writing sense modes according to an embodiment of the present invention. The left portion of FIG8 shows an operation scenario of the touch pen 100 sliding on the touch panel 10. The electronic device 80 equipped with the touch panel 10 can detect information such as the position and movement direction of the touch pen 100 on the touch panel 10. The right portion of FIG8 shows a diagram showing different force variation frequency curves of the touch pen 100 in different writing sense modes, wherein the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the clamping force HF1. The touch pen 100 and the touch panel 10 shown in FIG8 can refer to the relevant descriptions of FIG1 to FIG7 , so they will not be described in detail.

In the embodiment shown in FIG8 , the touch pen 100 can present/simulate the writing feeling on different material surfaces. The touch panel 10 can display one or more material simulation areas, such as material simulation areas Z81, Z82, and Z83. As an example, it is assumed that the material simulation area Z81 is used to simulate the writing feeling of canvas material, the material simulation area Z82 is used to simulate the writing feeling of stone material, and the material simulation area Z83 is used to simulate the writing feeling of wood material. The user can move the touch pen 100 to any area of the material simulation areas Z81, Z82, and Z83.

For example, when the stylus 100 moves to the material simulation area Z81, the electronic device 80 can determine the stylus 100 to operate in the writing feel mode 1 corresponding to the canvas material based on the position of the stylus 100, and then immediately issue a resistance adjustment instruction to the stylus 100 so that the processing circuit 150 selects the force change frequency curve WF81 to control/change the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip portion 120. When the stylus pen 100 moves to the material simulation area Z82, the electronic device 80 can determine the stylus pen 100 to operate in the writing feel mode 2 corresponding to the stone material based on the position of the stylus pen 100, and then immediately issue a resistance adjustment instruction to the stylus pen 100 so that the processing circuit 150 selects the force change frequency curve WF82 to control/change the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip portion 120. When the stylus 100 moves to the material simulation zone Z83, the electronic device 80 can determine that the stylus 100 operates in the writing feeling mode 3 corresponding to the wood material based on the position of the stylus 100, and then immediately issue a resistance adjustment instruction to the stylus 100, so that the processing circuit 150 selects the force change frequency curve WF83 to control/change the clamping force HF1 of the clamping part 110 on the pen tip 120. Therefore, the processing circuit 150 can control the clamping force adjustment part 130 to dynamically adjust the force change frequency of the clamping force HF1 of the clamping part 110 on the pen tip 120 according to the selected writing feeling mode to simulate the writing feeling of the stylus 100 on different material surfaces.

FIG9 is a flowchart of the educational application of the touch pen 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the touch pen 100 can be applied to teaching writing. The electronic device equipped with the touch panel 10 can run the writing teaching software to control the clamping force HF1 of the touch pen 100 to remind the user that the order or direction of the strokes is wrong. Please refer to FIG6 and FIG9. The user can hold the touch pen 100 and practice writing on the touch panel 10 according to the prompts of the writing teaching software. When the touch pen 100 slides on the touch panel 10, the writing teaching software can detect the position and movement direction of the touch pen 100 on the touch panel 10 through the touch panel 10 (step S910). In step S920, the writing teaching software can determine whether the position and/or moving direction of the touch pen 100 is correct. The touch panel 10 can issue a resistance adjustment instruction to the processing circuit 150 of the touch pen 100 based on the moving direction of the touch pen 100, and the processing circuit 150 can adjust the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 130 on the pen tip 120 based on the resistance adjustment instruction.

When the moving trajectory (position and/or moving direction) of the touch pen 100 is correct (the judgment result of step S920 is "yes"), the writing teaching software can proceed to step S930 to issue a resistance adjustment instruction to notify the processing circuit 150 of the touch pen 100. Based on the adjustment instruction issued in step S930, the processing circuit 150 can maintain (restore to) the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 130 on the pen tip portion 120 at a preset clamping force. The preset clamping force can make the user feel that the touch pen 100 is easy to move on the touch panel 10. The preset clamping force can be determined according to the actual application.

When the moving trajectory (position and/or moving direction) of the touch pen 100 is incorrect (the judgment result of step S920 is "no"), the writing teaching software can proceed to step S940 to issue a resistance adjustment instruction to notify the processing circuit 150 of the touch pen 100. Based on the resistance adjustment instruction issued in step S940, the processing circuit 150 can increase (maintain) the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 130 on the pen tip portion 120 to a clamping force greater than the preset clamping force (referred to as the increased clamping force). The increased clamping force can make the user feel that the touch pen 100 is not easy to move on the touch panel 10, so the user can intuitively know that the current writing is wrong. The increased clamping force can be determined according to the actual application.

In summary, the stylus pen 100 of various embodiments of the present invention can dynamically adjust the clamping force HF1 of the clamping portion 110 on the pen tip 120 based on actual applications. When the clamping force HF1 changes, that is, when the friction between the clamping portion 110 and the pen tip 120 changes, the user can feel different feedback forces when writing. Therefore, the stylus pen 100 can change the writing feeling of the stylus pen 100 on the touch panel 10.

10: Touch panel 80: Electronic equipment 100: Touch pen 110: Clamping part 111, 112, 113, 114: Ball clamp 111a, 112a, 113a, 114a: Pivot end 111b, 112b, 113b, 114b: Movable end 120: Pen tip 130: Clamping force adjustment part 131, 132, 133: Electromagnet 134: Ferromagnetic material part 135, 136: Motor mechanism 140: Housing 150: Processing circuit 160: Communication device 170: Transmitter 180: Receiver D1: Movement direction HF1: Clamping force MF3, MF4: Magnetic force WF81, WF82, WF83: Force variation frequency curve S210, S220, S710, S720, S4910, S920, S930, S940: Steps Z81, Z82, Z83: Material simulation area

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of a touch pen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a touch pen operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a clamping portion and a clamping force adjustment portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of a clamping portion and a clamping force adjustment portion according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a clamping portion and a clamping force adjustment portion according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit block of a touch pen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a method for adjusting the writing feel of a touch pen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the operation scenario of switching the touch pen to different writing modes according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the process of educational application of the touch pen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10: Touch panel

100: stylus

110: Clamping part

120: Pen tip

140: Shell

D1: Movement direction

HF1: Clamping force

Claims (13)

A touch pen comprises: a pen tip; a clamping portion located in a housing of the touch pen, wherein the clamping portion clamps the pen tip, and the pen tip is suitable for rolling on a touch panel; and a clamping force adjustment portion coupled to the clamping portion, wherein the clamping force adjustment portion dynamically adjusts a clamping force of the clamping portion on the pen tip to change a friction force between the clamping portion and the pen tip. A touch pen as described in claim 1, wherein the pen tip portion includes a pen tip ball, and the clamping portion clamps the pen tip ball so that the pen tip ball rolls on the touch panel. The stylus pen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping force adjusted by the clamping force adjustment unit has a force variation frequency, and the stylus pen further comprises: A processing circuit coupled to the clamping force adjustment unit, wherein the processing circuit controls the clamping force adjustment unit, and the processing circuit adjusts the force variation frequency of the clamping force to simulate the sliding of the stylus pen on surfaces of different materials. A touch pen as described in claim 1, wherein when the touch pen slides on the touch panel, the touch panel detects a moving direction of the touch pen, the touch panel sends a resistance adjustment instruction to a processing circuit of the touch pen based on the moving direction, and the processing circuit adjusts the clamping force based on the resistance adjustment instruction. A touch pen as described in claim 1, wherein the clamping force adjustment portion includes an electromagnetic iron and a ferromagnetic material portion, the electromagnetic iron and the ferromagnetic material portion are arranged on both sides of the clamping portion, the pen tip portion is located between the electromagnetic iron and the ferromagnetic material portion, and the electromagnetic iron and the ferromagnetic material portion attract each other so that the clamping portion applies the clamping force to the pen tip portion. A stylus pen as described in claim 5, wherein the ferromagnetic material portion includes a magnet, an iron sheet or a nickel sheet. A touch pen as described in claim 1, wherein the clamping force adjustment portion includes a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet are arranged on both sides of the clamping portion, the pen tip is located between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, and the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet attract each other so that the clamping portion applies the clamping force to the pen tip. A stylus pen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping portion comprises: a first ball clamp having a first fulcrum end and a first movable end; and a second ball clamp having a second fulcrum end and a second movable end, wherein the pen tip is located between the first movable end and the second movable end, and the clamping force adjustment portion drives the first ball clamp and the second ball clamp to apply the clamping force to the pen tip. The stylus pen as claimed in claim 8, wherein the clamping force adjustment unit comprises: A motor mechanism for driving the first ball clamp and the second ball clamp to apply the clamping force to the pen tip. A method for operating a touch pen, comprising: Clamping a pen tip of the touch pen by a clamping portion of the touch pen, wherein the pen tip is suitable for rolling on a touch panel, and the clamping portion is located in a housing of the touch pen; and Dynamically adjusting a clamping force of the clamping portion on the pen tip by a clamping force adjustment portion of the touch pen to change a friction force between the clamping portion and the pen tip. The operating method as described in claim 10, wherein the pen tip portion includes a pen tip roller, and the operating method further includes: The pen tip roller is clamped by the clamping portion so that the pen tip roller rolls on the touch panel. The operating method as described in claim 10, wherein the clamping force adjusted by the clamping force adjustment unit has a force variation frequency, and the operating method further comprises: Adjusting the force variation frequency of the clamping force to simulate the sliding of the stylus on surfaces of different materials. The operating method as described in claim 10, wherein when the touch pen slides on the touch panel, the touch panel detects a moving direction of the touch pen, and the touch panel issues a resistance adjustment instruction to a processing circuit of the touch pen based on the moving direction, and the operating method further includes: Adjusting the clamping force based on the resistance adjustment instruction.

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