OPTICAL-TYPE POSITION DETECTING DEVICE, HAND APPARATUS, AND TOUCH PANEL

• US 20110127788A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: NAKANISHI, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,629,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 294/110.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34715 Scale reading or illumination devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

An optical detection device includes: a translucent unit that has elasticity; a light source unit that emits detection light toward the translucent unit; a light sensitive unit that is directed toward the translucent unit and has light sensitivity; and a detection unit that detects a target object based on the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit.

Claims

1. An optical detection device comprising:

a translucent unit that has elasticity;

a light source unit that emits detection light toward the translucent unit;

a light sensitive unit that is directed toward the translucent unit and has light sensitivity; and

a detection unit that detects a target object based on an intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit.

2. The optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects an amount of elastic displacement of the translucent unit based on the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit when the target object is brought into contact with the translucent unit.

3. The optical detection device according to claim 2,

wherein the light source unit forms a first light intensity distribution in which the intensity decreases as it becomes farther from the translucent unit by using the detection light transmitted through the translucent unit, and

wherein the detection unit detects a position of the target object corresponding to the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit and the first light intensity distribution.

4. The optical detection device according to claim 3, wherein the detection unit detects contact of the target object with the translucent unit when the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit is lower than the intensity of the first light intensity distribution.

5. The optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the translucent unit is formed from at least one of a silicone resin and a silicone rubber.

6. The optical detection device according to claim 2,

wherein the light source unit forms a second light intensity distribution in which the intensity changes in a direction along a surface of the translucent unit, and

wherein the detection unit detects a position of the target object corresponding to the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit and the second light intensity distribution.

7. A hand apparatus for a robot comprising:

the optical detection device according to claim 2; and

a hand for gripping the target object,

wherein the translucent unit is disposed on a gripping face of the hand that is brought into contact with the target object when the target object is gripped by the hand.

8. A touch panel comprising:

the optical detection device according to claim 2; and

an input face that is formed from the translucent unit.