Ruggedized active stylus with a single mechanism to enable access to two separate chambers
View Patent ↗In some examples, an active stylus may include a main portion and a top portion. The main portion may include a dry chamber used to store a battery. The top portion may include a wet chamber to store spare nibs. The wet chamber may be accessed to replace a damaged nib with a spare nib. When the top portion is fully mated with the main portion of the stylus, turning the top portion, in a first direction, relative to the main portion until the detent is reached and pulling the top portion from the main portion enables access to the wet chamber. Turning the top portion of the active stylus, in the first direction, relative to the main portion past the detent, until the top portion detaches from the main portion, enables access to the dry chamber.
1. An active stylus comprising:
a main portion comprising:
a dry chamber having a tubular shape; and
a threaded wall that includes a male coupler;
a top portion comprising:
a wet chamber to store a detent; and
a female coupler having inner threads located on an inner surface of the top portion to mate with exterior threads of the male coupler of the threaded wall;
wherein:
the top portion is configured to mate with the main portion by attaching the male coupler to the female coupler to seal the dry chamber to prevent foreign matter from entering into the dry chamber;
turning the top portion less than one turn, in a first direction, relative to the main portion until the detent is reached and pulling the top portion from the main portion to disengage, without detaching, the top portion from the main portion provides access to the wet chamber; and
turning the top portion at least one and a half turns in the first direction, relative to the main portion, past the detent, until the top portion detaches from the main portion, enables access to the dry chamber.
2. The active stylus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top portion or the main portion are comprised of one of:
carbon fiber,
aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
a titanium alloy;
high-density polyethylene (HDPE); or
polyoxymethylene (POM).
3. The active stylus of claim 1 , wherein:
the top portion includes a knurled top grip; and
the main portion includes a knurled bottom grip.
4. The active stylus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more mechanical buttons that are sealed using a boot.
5. The active stylus of claim 1 , wherein:
the dry chamber stores a battery to power the active stylus.
6. The active stylus of claim 1 , wherein the wet chamber further comprises:
a cylinder; and
a plurality of spare nibs.
7. The active stylus of claim 1 , wherein the top portion further comprises:
a hole in which to store a tool, the tool used to perform at least one of:
removing a current nib; or
attaching a new nib.
8. A ruggedized active stylus comprising:
a main portion comprising:
a tip into which a nib is inserted;
a dry chamber having a tubular shape; and
a threaded wall that includes a male coupler;
a top portion comprising:
a wet chamber to store a detent; and
a female coupler having inner threads located on an inner surface of the top portion to mate with exterior threads of the threaded wall;
wherein:
the top portion is configured to mate with the main portion by attaching the male coupler to the female coupler to seal the dry chamber to prevent foreign matter from entering into the dry chamber;
turning the top portion less than one turn, in a first direction, relative to the main portion until the detent is reached and pulling the top portion from the main portion to disengage, without detaching, the top portion from the main portion provides access to the wet chamber; and
turning the top portion at least one and a half turns in the first direction, relative to the main portion, past the detent, until the top portion detaches from the main portion, enables access to the dry chamber.
9. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , further comprising:
one or more mechanical buttons that are sealed using a boot.
10. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the top portion or the main portion are comprised of one of:
carbon fiber,
aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
a titanium alloy;
high-density polyethylene (HDPE); or
polyoxymethylene (POM).
11. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , wherein:
the top portion includes a knurled top grip; and
the main portion includes a knurled bottom grip.
12. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , wherein:
the dry chamber stores a battery to power the ruggedized active stylus.
13. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , wherein the wet chamber further comprises:
a cylinder; and
a plurality of spare nibs.
14. The ruggedized active stylus of claim 8 , wherein the top portion further comprises:
a hole that stores a tool to:
remove a current nib; or
attach a new nib.
15. A computing device comprising:
a touchscreen display device; and
an active stylus comprising:
a main portion comprising:
a dry chamber having a tubular shape; and
a threaded wall that includes a male coupler;
a top portion comprising:
a wet chamber to store a detent; and
a female coupler having inner threads located on an inner surface of the top portion to mate with exterior threads of the male coupler of the threaded wall;
wherein:
the top portion is configured to mate with the main portion by attaching the male coupler to the female coupler to seal the dry chamber to prevent foreign matter from entering into the dry chamber;
turning the top portion less than one turn, in a first direction, relative to the main portion until the detent is reached and pulling the top portion from the main portion to disengage, without detaching, the top portion from the main portion provides access to the wet chamber; and
turning the top portion at least one and a half turns in the first direction, relative to the main portion, past the detent, until the top portion detaches from the main portion, enables access to the dry chamber.
16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the top portion or the main portion of the active stylus are comprised of one of:
carbon fiber,
aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
a titanium alloy;
high-density polyethylene (HDPE); or
polyoxymethylene (POM).
17. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the active stylus further comprises:
one or more mechanical buttons that are sealed using a boot.
18. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein:
the top portion includes a knurled top grip; and
the main portion includes a knurled bottom grip.
19. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein:
the dry chamber stores a battery to power the active stylus.
20. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the wet chamber of the active stylus further comprises:
a cylinder; and
a plurality of spare nibs.