Ultra thin optical joystick and personal portable device having ultra thin optical joystick

• US 20060038776A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Crucialtec Co., Ltd, GNC Corporation (Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Crucialtec Co., Ltd, GNC Corporation (Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Park, Chul, Bae, Jae Hun, Ahn, Keon Joon, Kim, Jae Dong
• Application Number:
  US11/189,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038776A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

An optical joystick includes a first waveguide including a first reflecting surface located below a reading area for sensing the movement of an object and a first plano-convex lens portion condensing light reflected from the first reflecting surface, a second waveguide including a second plano-convex lens portion facing the first plano-convex lens portion and a second reflecting surface for reflecting light refracted at the second plano-convex lens portion, and an image sensor located below the second reflecting surface. The first reflecting surface and the first plano-convex lens portion form a single body, and the second plano-convex lens portion and the second reflecting surface also form a single body. The reflecting surface and the lens portion are in a single body, thereby notably reducing the thickness of the optical joystick. The first and second waveguides are facing each other, thereby improving refraction and condensing light.

Claims

1. An optical joystick comprising:

a first waveguide including a first reflecting surface located below a reading area for sensing the movement of an object and a first plano-convex lens portion condensing light reflected from the first reflecting surface, in which the first reflecting surface and the first plano-convex lens portion form a single body;

a second waveguide including a second plano-convex lens portion facing the first plano-convex lens portion and a second reflecting surface for reflecting light refracted at the second plano-convex lens portion, in which the second plano-convex lens portion and the second reflecting surface form a single body; and

an image sensor located below the second reflecting surface.

3. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein one or two of the first plano-convex lens portion and the second plano-convex lens portion are formed in a shape of a spherical or aspherical lens.

4. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein another waveguide including one of a lens or a lens portion is interposed between the first waveguide and second wave guide.

5. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first and second waveguides are symmetrically disposed.

6. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first and second waveguides are symmetrically disposed.

7. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a cover glass is formed above the first reflecting surface of the first waveguide, the cover glass integrated in a body with the first waveguide or separately formed from the first waveguide.

8. The joystick of claim 7, wherein a light source unit is installed adjacent to the cover glass and includes a light emitting module emitting light to directly or indirectly scan light toward the cover glass.

9. The joystick of claim 8, wherein the light source unit is located below the first reflecting surface of the first waveguide such that light generated from the light emitting module passes the first reflecting surface of the first waveguide and is scanned toward the top surface of the cover glass.

10. The joystick of claim 8, wherein the light source unit includes a reflecting mirror guiding the light generated from the light emitting module to let the light encounter the top surface of the cover glass with a high angle of incidence.

11. The joystick of claim 7, wherein a light source unit is installed adjacent to the cover glass, includes a light emitting module emitting light and a light source guide guiding light generated from the light emitting module to the cover glass, in which the light source guide is formed by using plastics for optics, and guides the light from the light emitting module to the cover glass with a high angle of incidence by using total reflection.

12. The joystick of claim 7, wherein a shade unit for cutting off noise light is provided between the first and second waveguides.

13. The joystick of any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising:

a click button formed around the cover glass;

a dome switch located beneath the click button; and

a button control section transmitting an input value of the click button.

2. An optical joystick comprising:

a first waveguide including a first reflecting surface located below a reading area for sensing the movement of an object and a first plano-convex lens portion condensing light reflected from the first reflecting surface, in which the first reflecting surface and the first plano-convex lens portion form a single body;

a second waveguide including a second plano-convex lens portion facing the first plano-convex lens portion and an outlet surface for passing light refracted at the second plano-convex lens portion, in which the second plano-convex lens portion and the outlet surface form a single body; and

an image sensor located adjacent to the outlet surface.

14. A personal portable device comprising:

a terminal body including a display module;

a cover glass partially exposed from the terminal body for reading the movement of an object;

a first waveguide including a first reflecting surface located below the cover glass and a first plano-convex lens portion condensing light reflected from the reflecting surface, in which the first reflecting surface and the first plano-convex lens portion form a single body;

a second waveguide including a second plano-convex lens portion facing the first plano-convex lens portion and a second reflecting surface for reflecting light refracted at the second plano-convex lens portion, in which the second plano-convex lens portion and the second reflecting surface form a single body;

an image sensor located below the second reflecting surface; and

a control unit moving a pointer displayed on the display module according to the movement of the object read by the image sensor.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first and second waveguides are symmetrically or asymmetrically disposed.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the cover glass is integrated with a body of the first waveguide or is separately formed from the first waveguide.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein a light source unit is installed adjacent to the cover glass and includes a light emitting module emitting light to directly or indirectly scan light toward the cover glass.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the light source unit includes a reflecting mirror guiding the light generated from the light emitting module to let the light encounter the top surface of the cover glass with a high angle of incidence.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein a light source unit is installed adjacent to the cover glass, includes a light emitting module emitting light and a light source guide guiding light generated from the light emitting module to the cover glass, in which the light source guide is formed by using plastics for optics, and guides the light from the light emitting module to the cover glass with a high angle of incidence by using total reflection.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a cut-off unit for cutting off noise light is provided between the first and second waveguides.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a click button formed around the cover glass;

a dome switch located beneath the click button; and

a button control section transmitting an input value of the click button.