OPTICAL SCROLLING MODULE AND OPTICAL CONTROL MODULE

• US 20120154282A1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: CHEN, Hui-Hsuan, Lai, Hung-Ching, Liu, Tien-Chia
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/30 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An optical scrolling module includes a prism, a light source, an image sensor and a first condenser. The prism is disposed at an opening of an upper shell of a mouse and has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface. The contact and light incident surfaces are respectively connected between the reflective and light emitting surfaces. The contact surface is exposed by the opening. A light beam from the light source is transmitted to the contact surface via the light incident and reflective surfaces. When an object with a pattern structure puts on the contact surface, the light beam is scattered and a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser. When the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.

Claims

1. An optical scrolling module for a mouse, the mouse having a housing and a circuit board disposed in the housing, an upper shell of the housing having an opening, the optical scrolling module comprising:

a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface, wherein the contact surface is connected to the light emitting surface and the contact surface is exposed by the opening, and the light incident surface is connected to the reflective surface;

a light source disposed on the circuit board for providing a light beam;

an image sensor disposed on the circuit board; and

a first condenser disposed between the image sensor and the contact surface,

wherein, the light beam is transmitted to the reflective surface via the light incident surface and is reflected to the contact surface by the reflective surface, when an object having a pattern structure contacts the contact surface, the light beam transmitted to the contact surface is scattered and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser, when the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.

2. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depth of field of the first condenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

3. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first condenser comprises at least a lens.

4. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second condenser disposed between the light source and the prism.

5. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second condenser comprises at least a lens.

6. An optical control module, comprising:

a light source for providing a light beam;

a a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface, wherein the contact surface is connected to the light emitting surface, and the light incident surface is connected to the reflective surface and faces the light source;

an image sensor; and

a first condenser disposed between the image sensor and the prism,

wherein, the light beam is transmitted to the reflective surface via the light incident surface and is reflected to the contact surface by the reflective surface, when an object having a pattern structure contacts the contact surface, the light beam transmitted to the contact surface is scattered and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser, when the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.

7. The optical control module as claimed in claim 6, wherein a depth of field of the first condenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

8. The optical control module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first condenser comprises at least a lens.

9. The optical control module as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a second condenser disposed between the light source and the prism.

10. The optical control module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second condenser comprises at least a lens.

11. The optical control module as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a circuit board, wherein the light source and the image sensor are disposed on the circuit board.