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

• US 20110128553A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: NAKANISHI, Daisuke
• Application Number:
  US12/955,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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 position detecting device includes: a translucent unit; a light source unit that emits detection light toward the translucent unit and forms with the detection light transmitted through the translucent unit a first light intensity distribution in which the intensity decreases as it becomes farther from the translucent unit; a light detecting unit that receives the detection light reflected by a target object located within the first light intensity distribution; and a position detecting unit that detects a position of the target object based on the intensity of light received by the light detecting unit.

Claims

1. An optical position detecting device comprising:

a translucent unit;

a light source unit that emits detection light toward the translucent unit and forms with the detection light transmitted through the translucent unit a first light intensity distribution in which the intensity decreases as it becomes farther from the translucent unit;

a light detecting unit that receives the detection light reflected by a target object located within the first light intensity distribution; and

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

2. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting unit detects contact of the target object with the translucent unit when the intensity of light received by the light detecting unit is lower than the intensity of the first light intensity distribution.

3. The optical position detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the translucent unit has elasticity and an embedding property in regard to the target object.

4. The optical position detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the translucent unit is formed from a silicone resin.

5. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit includes a light emitting element that emits the detection light.

6. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the light detecting unit is configured by one of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

7. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1,

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

8. A hand apparatus for a robot comprising:

the optical position detecting 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.

9. A touch panel comprising:

the optical position detecting device according to claim 2; and

an input face that is formed by the translucent unit.