Method and apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object in a control panel recess
First Claim
1. An apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object applied to a control panel, comprising:
- a recess formed on said control panel for receiving said control object;
a plurality of light receiving portions formed on a first inside surface of said recess and arranged in a longitudinal direction of said recess;
a plurality of light emitting portions formed on a second inside surface of said recess opposed to said first inside surface, each light emitting portion located opposite a corresponding one of each of the light receiving portions so as to emit light to the opposite light receiving portion, whereby a plurality of light paths pass from said light emitting portions across said recess to said light receiving portions, said light paths being arranged in the longitudinal direction of said recess;
a light generator for supplying the light to each light emitting portion;
a detector connected to said light receiving portions for generating a signal in response to the light emitted from said light emitting portions and received by said light receiving portions; and
a light transmitting member connected to said light receiving portions, said light transmitting member having a back surface with a plurality of stepped portions corresponding to said light receiving portions, wherein the light received by said light receiving portions is reflected by said stepped portions and is transmitted through said light transmitting member to said detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical operating device is provided on an operation panel of an audio system or the like, including a recess formed on the operation panel; several light receiving portions are formed on a first inside surface of the recess and arranged in a longitudinl direction of the recess; several light emitting portions are formed on a second inside surface of the recess opposed to the first inside surface, with each light emitting portion corresponding to a light receiving portion. Several light paths thus pass from the light emitting portions across the recess to the light receiving portions, and the light paths are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the recess. A light source supplies the light to each light emitting portion, and a photo detector is connected to the light receiving portions for generating a predetermined signal according to the light emitted from the light emitting portions and received by the light receiving portions. With this arrangement, tone control or the like in the audio system is easily carried out by inserting a finger into the recess and moving the finger to a desired position.
11 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object applied to a control panel, comprising:
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a recess formed on said control panel for receiving said control object; a plurality of light receiving portions formed on a first inside surface of said recess and arranged in a longitudinal direction of said recess; a plurality of light emitting portions formed on a second inside surface of said recess opposed to said first inside surface, each light emitting portion located opposite a corresponding one of each of the light receiving portions so as to emit light to the opposite light receiving portion, whereby a plurality of light paths pass from said light emitting portions across said recess to said light receiving portions, said light paths being arranged in the longitudinal direction of said recess; a light generator for supplying the light to each light emitting portion; a detector connected to said light receiving portions for generating a signal in response to the light emitted from said light emitting portions and received by said light receiving portions; and a light transmitting member connected to said light receiving portions, said light transmitting member having a back surface with a plurality of stepped portions corresponding to said light receiving portions, wherein the light received by said light receiving portions is reflected by said stepped portions and is transmitted through said light transmitting member to said detector.
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2. An apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object applied to a control panel, comprising:
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a recess formed on said control panel for receiving said control object; a plurality of light receiving portions formed on a first inside surface of said recess and arranged in a longitudinal direction of said recess; a plurality of light emitting portions formed on a second inside surface of said recess opposed to said first inside surface, each light emitting portion located opposite a corresponding one of each of the light receiving portions so as to emit light to the opposite light receiving portion, whereby a plurality of light paths pass from said light emitting portions across said recess to said light receiving portions, said light paths being arranged in the longitudinal direction of said recess; a light generator for supplying the light to each light emitting portion; light emission control means for controlling said light generator to generate the light in pulses; and a detector connected to said light receiving portions for generating a signal in response to the light emitted from said light emitting portions and received by said light receiving portions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object applied to a control panel, comprising:
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a recess formed on said control panel for receiving said control object; a plurality of light receiving portions formed on a first inside surface of said recess and arranged in a longitudinal direction of said recess; a plurality of light emitting portions formed on a second inside surface of said recess opposed to said first inside surface, each light emitting portion corresponding to a light receiving portion so as to emit light to each opposite light receiving portion, whereby a plurality of light paths pass from said light emitting portions across said recess to said light receiving portions, said light paths being arranged in the longitudinal direction of said recess; a single light source for supplying the light to each light emitting portion; light emission control means for controlling said light source so as to generate the light in pulses; and a plurality of photo detectors each connected to a light receiving portion for generating a signal in response to the light emitted from said light emitting portions and received by said light receiving portions.
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11. An apparatus for optically detecting the location of a control object applied to a control panel, comprising:
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a recess formed on said control panel for receiving said control object; a plurality of light receiving portions formed on a first inside surface of said recess and arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of light emitting portions formed on a second inside surface of said recess opposed to said first inside surface, each light emitting portion located opposite a corresponding one of each of the light receiving portions so as to emit light to the opposite light receiving portion, whereby a plurality of light paths pass from said light emitting portions across said recess to said light receiving portions, said light paths being arranged in the longitudinal direction of said recess; a light generator for supplying the light to each light emitting portion; a detector connected to said light receiving portions for generating a signal in response to the light emitted from said light emitting portions and received by said light receiving portions; and a light transmitting member connected to said light emitting portions, said light transmitting member having a back surface with a plurality of stepped portions corresponding to said light emitting portions, wherein the light emitted from said light generator is reflected by said stepped portions and is transmitted through said light transmitting member to said light emitting portions. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of optically controlling a device, comprising the steps of:
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pulsing a plurality of light sources; emitting the light from said light sources into a planar region generally parallel to a surface of a control panel in a plurality of generally parallel beam paths, said light being emitted from an edge of said planar region; selectively positioning a control object within said planar region with movement transverse to said beam paths, said control object blocking at least one of said beam paths; detecting at the opposing edge of said planar region light present on said beam paths; identifying said blocked beam path in accordance with the results of said detecting step; and controlling said device in accordance with the results of said identifying step. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of optically controlling a device, comprising the steps of:
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pulsing a light source; diverging the light from said light source into a plurality of light beams; directing said light beams into a planar region generally parallel to a surface of a control panel in a plurality of generally parallel beam paths, said light being emitted from an edge of said planar region; selectively positioning a control object within said planar region with movement transverse to said beam paths, said control object blocking at least one of said beam paths; detecting at the opposing edge of said planar region light present on said beam paths; identifying said blocked beam path in accordance with the results of said detecting step; and controlling said device in accordance with the results of said identifying step.
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Specification