Patent ID: 8414210

Claim:
An electronic pen having a retractable nib for interacting with a surface, said pen comprising: a body; a slidably movable cartridge having a nib at a first end for contacting the surface, said cartridge being configurable in an extended position, wherein said nib protrudes from said body of said pen, and a retracted position wherein said nib is retracted in said body; a retraction mechanism comprising: a barrel for receiving an opposite second end of said cartridge, said barrel being adapted for seating said cartridge in either said extended position or said retracted position, whereby a longitudinal axial force from said cartridge is transmitted to said barrel in said extended position; and a biasing mechanism for biasing said cartridge towards said extended or retracted positions; an actuator coupled to said retraction mechanism, said actuator enabling a user to move said cartridge between said extended and retracted positions; a force sensor engaged by an integral pin of said barrel, said force sensor detecting said longitudinal axial force via said integral pin; and a processor configured for generating force data indicative of a force detected by said force sensor.