Optical encoder based on light-steering based contrast generation from a first plurality of primary convex mirror sections and a second plurality of secondary mirror sections

• US 10,139,250 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Isikman, Serhan O., Rai, Anant, Holenarsipur, Prashanth, Ruh, Richard, Atsuta, Takahiro, Yamakawa, Akio, Ohara, Yoshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Que T
• Application Number:
  US15/206,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20180010930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 25023113, 25023118, 250239
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/285 using a movable mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/30 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/3473 Circular or rotary encoders

Abstract

In some examples, an optical encoder may consist of a light source that shines light onto a wheel which then reflects the light onto a sensor. Using information encoded in the reflected light, the rotation of the wheel may be determined. In some examples, rotation of the wheel may be determined by detecting an encoding pattern in light reflected from an exterior surface of the wheel. In some examples, the encoding pattern can be a pattern of light and dark stripes. In some examples, a pattern of light stripes can be generated from light reflecting off of reflective portions of the wheel. Some examples of the disclosure relate to using a surface topology for a wheel that can be used to generate an encoding pattern of light and dark stripes in light reflected from the surface of the wheel, even when the surface of the wheel is uniformly reflective.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an light source configured to transmit light toward a rotatable optical encoder;

the rotatable optical encoder having a first surface, where the first surface comprises a specularly reflective material, and a surface shape of the first surface is configured to generate a modulated pattern of brightness in light from the light source specularly reflected by the first surface, the first surface comprising;

a first plurality of primary convex mirror sections configured to reflect incident light toward bright portions of the modulated pattern of brightness and away from dark portions of the modulated pattern of brightness; and

a second plurality of secondary mirror sections having a second surface shape different from the plurality of convex mirror sections wherein light reflected from the secondary mirror sections overlaps with light reflected from the primary convex mirror sections.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface shape of the first surface includes angled reflective portions configured to reflect light toward bright portions of the modulated pattern and away from dark portions of the modulated pattern.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotatable optical encoder is reflective across a continuously reflective portion of the first surface, the continuously reflective portion of the first surface including the angled reflective portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface shape comprises a plurality of convex mirror sections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface shape comprises a plurality of concave mirror sections.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface shape of the first surface comprises a plurality of channels on the first surface of the encoder, each channel comprising at least one primary mirror section and at least one secondary mirror section.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the channels are along a length of the rotatable optical encoder and are mutually parallel.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each convex secondary mirror section is associated with a channel along a length of the encoder.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein two or more reflective portions form a channel on the first surface of the encoder.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first, second, and third reflective portion form a channel on the first surface of the encoder, each of the first, second, and third reflective portions facing a different direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

a position on the first surface at the second reflective portion is perpendicular to a radial axis projected between the first surface and a center of the rotatable optical encoder; and

the second reflective portion is between the first reflective portion and the third reflective portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modulation pattern is a pattern of alternating bright and dark stripes.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a light sensor; and

a rotatable optical encoder configured to reflect light from the light source onto the light sensor, the rotatable optical encoder having a first circumferential surface having a first surface topology, the first surface topology comprising a first plurality of reflective sections and a second plurality of reflective sections configured to reflect light from the light source onto the sensor in a modulated brightness pattern indicative of rotational movement of the rotatable optical encoder, wherein the first plurality of reflective sections are configured to reflect light along a radial axis of the rotatable optical encoder and the second plurality of reflective sections are configured to reflect light along a second axis, different from the radial axis of the rotatable optical encoder such that the light reflected by the second plurality of reflective sections overlaps with the light reflected by the first plurality of reflective sections in a bright portion of the modulated brightness pattern.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of reflective sections and the second plurality of reflective sections comprise convex mirrors.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of reflection sections comprise convex mirrors and the second plurality of reflective sections comprise concave mirrors.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first plurality of reflective sections and the second plurality of reflective sections is a flat mirror.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first surface topology comprises a plurality of channels formed by the first plurality reflective sections and the second plurality of reflective sections.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of channels are along the length of the rotatable optical encoder and are mutually parallel.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein rotation of the rotatable optical encoder results in a pattern of light and dark stripes onto the light sensor, and wherein a specularly reflective portion of the rotatable optical encoder is positioned directly opposite the light sensor when a dark stripe is detected by the light sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein one of the second plurality of reflective sections is positioned directly opposite the light sensor when a dark stripe is detected by the light sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first circumferential surface of the rotatable optical has a specularly reflective characteristic.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rotatable optical encoder is operatively coupled to a mechanical input mechanism of a wearable electronic device.