Optical coordinate data entry device with integral lens and spacer

• US 4,739,160 A
• Filed: 05/19/1986
• Issued: 04/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Hiroaki, Kawabe, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Application Number:
  US06/864,705
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/216, 250/208, 250/209, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An optical coordinate data entry device mounted on the face of a display device. The entry device comprises an array of light-emitting devices, an array of light-receiving devices corresponding to the light-emitting devices, and a condenser lens member extending parallel to the arrays for directing the light beams coming from the light-emitting devices onto the light-receiving devices. A spacer acting also as a light-blocking member is formed integrally with the lens member.

Claims

1. In an optical coordinate data entry device having arrays of light emitting elements and light receiving elements disposed around the sides of a display screen for forming a matrix of light beams in front of the display screen for detecting the presence of a pointing object interposed in the matrix, and a filter disposed in front of the light receiving and emitting elements around the sides of the display screen for preventing light external to the device from affecting the light receiving elements and light from the light emitting elements from being projected outside the device,

the improvement comprising each array of light elements being mounted in a row on a longitudinally extending baseplate, and a filter associated with said array being formed as a longitudinally extending member having a longitudinal concavity formed in one side facing the baseplate, said concavity being defined by longitudinally extending side walls spaced apart from each other and a longitudinally extending front wall provided on the side walls so as to form a U-shaped cross-section, wherein said side walls are mounted on the baseplate such that said concavity encloses the row of light elements, said filter further having a lens member formed on said front wall, on an opposite side from the concavity facing toward the matrix, for focusing light beams passing to or from the light elements, said lens member being accurately spaced from and mounted in registration with the light elements by a selected width and shape of the side walls mounted on the baseplate, whereby the filter and lens member for the light elements are both formed by one integrated structure for convenience of assembly.

2. An optical coordinate data entry device according to claim 1, wherein said side walls, front wall, and lens member are integrally molded in one piece made of plastic material.

3. An optical coordinate data entry device according to claim 1, wherein said lens member is a single longitudinally extending member having a semicircular cross-section integrally molded on the front wall.

4. An optical coordinate data entry device according to claim 1, wherein said lens member is a single longitudinally extending member having a semicircular cross-section, and has a protrusion on a rear side thereof dimensioned to be insertably fitted in the spacing between the side walls for mounting the lens member thereon, said lens member thereby also constituting the front wall of the filter.

5. An optical coordinate data entry device according to claim 1, wherein said lens member comprises a plurality of spherical protrusions integrally molded on the front wall and positioned in a row corresponding to the light elements.