Optical Sensing Mechanisms for Input Devices

• US 20140071050A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Armstrong-Muntner, Joel S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,542,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A computer or other electronic device including a processor and an input device, such as a track pad. The track pad being in communication with the processor and including a movable surface, a light source in communication with the processor, and an optical sensor in selective optical communication with the light source and in communication with the processor. The optical sensor detects movement of the movable surface by receiving light from the light source.

Claims

1. An input device for an electronic device, comprising:

a user input surface movably connected to a substrate;

at least one light sensor operably connected to one of the user input surface or the substrate; and

a light source in selective communication with the at least one light sensor;

wherein

when the user input surface is in a first position the at least one light sensor receives a first value of light from the light source; and

when the user input surface is in a second position the at least one light sensor receives a second value of light from the light source.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising at least one light blocking member operably connected to one of the substrate or the user input surface, wherein as the user input surface moves from the first position to the second position, the at least one light blocking member selectively blocks communication between the light source and the at least one light sensor.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the at least one light blocking member extends upwards from the substrate towards the user input surface.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein the at least one light blocking member is operably connected to the user input surface and moves with the user input surface as the user input surface transitions from the first position to the second position.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the at least one light blocking member defines a transmission window, and in the first position of the user input surface the transmission window is directly aligned with the at least one light sensor and in the second position of the user input surface the transmission window is misaligned with the at least one light sensor.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the transmission window has a first width at a first end and a second width at a second end.

7. The input device of claim 2, further comprising at least one light directing member in optical communication with the light source and the at least one light sensor.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein the at least one light directing member is at least one of a mirror, prism, or light guide.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the user input surface includes a trackable feature.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature is a pattern on the bottom surface.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature includes at least one coded feature that provides data to the at least one light sensor regarding a position of the user input surface.

12. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature is a non-planar surface.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser or a light emitting diode.

14. A computer comprising:

a processor; and

a track pad in communication with the processor, the track pad comprising;

a movable surface;

a light source in communication with the processor; and

an optical sensor in selective optical communication with the light source and in communication with the processor;

wherein

the optical sensor detects movement of the movable surface by receiving light from the light source.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein at the movable surface moves due to a user providing a user input force, a light received by the optical sensor from the light source varies correspondingly.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein the movable surface further comprises at least one trackable feature, wherein the optical sensor captures light reflected from the trackable feature to detect movement of the movable surface.

17. The computer of claim 14, wherein the track pad further comprises at least one light blocking member, wherein as the movable surface moves due to a user input force, the at least one light blocking member selectively blocks or allows light from the light source to reach the optical sensor.

18. A method for tracking movement of an input device for an electronic device, comprising:

emitting a light from a light source;

detecting by an optical sensor a first light value corresponding to a first position of the input device; and

detecting by the optical sensor a second light value corresponding to the second position of the input device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising blocking light from the light source when the input device is in the second position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the input device is a track pad.