The stylus pen is becoming a more common accessory for computing devices such as convertible notebooks, tablets, and even smart phones. Stylus pens can be used to input commands to a computer screen, taking the place of a user's finger. For example, stylus pens can be used as a pointing device, selection device, or writing tool. Some stylus pens have built-in memory and other electronics that can be used to provide additional inputs to the computing device. For example, buttons may be provided on the barrel of the pen to enable the user to transmit certain user actions to the computing device. Such a stylus pen may be referred to as an active pen or digital pen.
Certain examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:
As stylus pens becoming more expensive, it is useful to have a reliable method to attach the pen to the computing device so that it will not be lost. Traditional attachment methods, such as slots or recesses, often have an undesirable effect on the industrial design of the computing device. Magnets have minimal effect on industrial design, but may not be secure enough to ensure that the pen will not be accidentally dislodged. The present disclosure describes techniques for securely attaching a stylus pen to a computing device without significantly affecting the industrial design of the computing device.
The attachment device described herein includes a retractable band that is housed within the computing device and accessible through a thin slot. The band can be pulled outward by the user and wrapped around the stylus pen to secure the pen to the computing device. When the pen is removed, the band can be retracted back into the computing device and hidden from view.
In one example, the band is a thin metal spring coil that wraps around the pen. To attach the pen to the computing device, the pen can be placed against the side of the computing device in the vicinity of the slot and rotated to extract the spring coil. The energy stored in the spring causes it to naturally wrap around the pen and hold it securely against the side of the computing device. When not being used, the spring coil will automatically retract and coil back up inside the unit.
In another example, the band is a ribbon of cloth or other flexible material. To attach the pen to the computing device, the ribbon can be extracted by the user and wrapped around the pen. An attachment mechanism at the end of the ribbon can be secured against a complimentary attachment mechanism in or on the computing device. When not being used, the ribbon will automatically retract and coil back up inside the enclosure of the computing device.
The examples described herein provide a reliable pen attachment method that does not significantly affect the industrial design of the computing device. When not in use, the band retracts into the unit, leaving a small inconspicuous slot on the outer surface. Having a reliable pen attachment mechanism that does not significantly affect the aesthetics of the computing device may make the purchasing of such computing devices more attractive to consumers.
The attachment mechanism enables a user to securely attach the stylus pen 102 to the side of the computing device 100. The attachment mechanism includes a band 104 that can be extracted from a slot 106 disposed in the side of the enclosure of the computing device. When not in use, the band 104 is retracted within the slot 106 and hidden from view. To attach the pen 102 to the computing device 100, the user can extract the band 104 and wrap the band 104 around the pen 102 to secure it to the computing device 100. When the user detaches the pen 102 from the computing device 100, the band 104 retracts back into the enclosure. In the example shown in
The band 104 may be any suitable material including metal, plastic, cloth, and others. In some examples, the band 104 is a metal spring coil that wraps around the pen such that the pen is held in place by the inherent tendency of the spring coil to curl around the pen 102. In some examples, the band 104 is a ribbon of material such as cloth or plastic. The ribbon can be extracted by the user, wrapped around the pen 102 and coupled to an external surface of the enclosure such that the pen 102 is held against the side of the enclosure by the pressure applied by the ribbon. Examples of these techniques are described further in relation to
The width of the band 104 may be any suitable dimension. In some examples, the width of the band 104 is small compared to the length of the pen 102. For example, the width of the band 104 may be approximately 0.25 inch, 0.5 inch, 1.0 inch, or any value in between. In some examples, the width of the band 104 is comparable to the length of the pen 102. For example, the width of the band 104 may be equal to half the length of the pen 102, three quarters of the length the pen 102, the full length of the pen 102, or any value in between. Additionally, although one band 104 is shown, the attachment mechanism may include two or more bands as shown in
In addition to the band 104, the attachment of the pen 102 to the computing device 100 may also be aided by magnets. For example, as shown in
In
The spring coil 300 may be a band of metal that is rolled into the shape of a spiral coil, sometimes referred to as a negator spring or laminar spring. The spring coil 300 can include any type of metal suitable for forming a spring coil, including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, and others. In examples wherein the spring coil spring coil 300 is magnetically extracted, the spring coil 300 may be formed of any suitable magnetic metal, including ferritic stainless steel, and others.
To release the pen 102, the user can rotate the pen in the direction indicated by the arrow 308. As the pen 102 rotates, the spring coil 300 retracts back into the enclosure through the slot 106 and wraps around the spool 302. In some examples, the rotation of the spool 302 is caused in part by the force applied by the user and in part by the energy released by the spring coil 300 as it wraps around the smaller radius spool 302. In some examples, the spool 302 may also be coupled to a torsion spring 310 that applies a rotational force to the spool 302 to retract the spring coil 300 when not in use. The torsion spring 310 can bias the spring coil 300 in the retracted position, thereby pulling the spring coil 300 back into the enclosure when not it use or when released by the user.
In some examples, the attachment mechanism also includes a latch 312 coupled to the spool 302 and configured to lock the spool 302 in place in an extracted position. The latch 312 can be locked when the spring coil 300 is fully extracted to counteract the torque applied by the torsion spring 310 and stop the spool 302 from rotating when the spring coil 300 is holding the pen 102. When the latch 312 is locked and the user wants to detach the pen 102, the user can pull on the spring coil 300 to unlock the latch 312 and allow the spool 302 to rotate.
In the example shown in
In
The ribbon 502 may be made of any suitable material, including a natural cloth, a synthetic cloth, or a combination thereof. The ribbon 502 may also be made of flexible polymers such as biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) and others.
The spool 302 may also be coupled to the torsion spring 310 that applies a rotational force to the spool 302 to retract the ribbon 502 when not in use. The torsion spring 310 can bias the ribbon 502 toward the retracted position, thereby pulling the ribbon 502 back into the enclosure when not it use or when released by the user. The attachment mechanism can also include the latch 312, which is coupled to the spool 302 and configured to lock the spool 302 in place in an extracted position. The latch 312 can be locked when the ribbon 502 is fully extracted to counteract the torque applied by the torsion spring 310 and stop the spool 302 from rotating when the ribbon 502 is holding the pen 102. When the latch 312 is locked and the user wants to detach the pen 102, the user can pull on the ribbon 502 to unlock the latch 312 and allow the spool 302 to rotate.
At block 602, a slot is formed in an enclosure of the computing device. The slot provides a small opening that allows a band to be drawn from the interior of the computing device's enclosure. Additional slots may be formed along the length of the enclosure depending on the number of bands.
At block 604, one end of a band is coupled to a spool. The band may be a spring coil or a ribbon of flexible material. As an example, a torsion spring and latch can also be coupled to the spool. In some examples, two or more bands may be coupled to the spool at different locations along the length of the spool. The end of the band not coupled to the spool (the free end) may have a tab or a coupling mechanism such as a magnet.
At block 606, the spool is attached to the interior of the enclosure of the computing device. The spool is attached to the enclosure in a way that allows the spool to rotate about its axis. The spool is also fixed to the enclosure at a position that allows the free end of the band to engage with the slot. In examples wherein the band is to include a tab or coupling mechanism at its free end, the band may be pulled through the slot to form the tab or attach the coupling mechanism.
It is to be understood that the block diagram of
While the present techniques may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the techniques discussed above have been shown by way of example. It is to be understood that the technique is not intended to be limited to the particular examples disclosed herein. Indeed, the present techniques include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the scope of the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2019/043660 | 7/26/2019 | WO | 00 |