Space coordinates detecting device and input apparatus using same

• US 5,627,565 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masahiro, Yasuda, Yuichi, Muta, Tomomitsu, Uchio, Masatoshi, Morishita, Ichiro, Saito, Junichi, Nakayama, Masaru, Umeda, Yuichi, Katagiri, Kazuhiro, Sato, Arao
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/452,453
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/180, 345/157, 345/181
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a space coordinates detecting device wherein a detecting section for detecting light emitted from a light source is provided, thereby permitting detection of a relative angle between a light emitting sections and the detecting section and hence permitting application of the detecting device to an input apparatus. The detecting section is provided with a light sensing element 23 having quartered light sensing portions. In the light emitting section, distinguishable lights are emitted from two light sources. The lights thus emitted are throttled through apertures and applied as separate square light spots S16 and S17 to the light-sensitive surface of the light sensing element 23. By calculating a difference in the detected output among the quartered light sensing portions, it is possible to determine the center I1 of the square light spot S16 and the center I2 of the square light spot S17. A relative rotational angle of the light emitting section and the detecting section with respect to Z axis can be determined by calculating an inclination angle α on X-Y orthogonal coordinates of a line x connecting both centers I1 and I2.

Claims

1. A space coordinates detecting device characterized in that a light emitting section and a detecting section are disposed in spaced relation to each other, said light emitting section having two light sources each adapted to emit a distinguishable light and spaced from each other, said detecting section having an aperture for making each light into a light spot of a predetermined area, said detecting section further having an X side light sensing portion for detecting movement in X axis direction of each light spot and a Y side light sensing portion for detecting movement in Y axis direction of each light spot when X-Y orthogonal coordinates intersecting an axis which passes through the center of said aperture are set, and there is provided a computing section which determines the position of each light spot on the basis of a difference in the amount of light received in the X side light sensing portion between both light spots and a difference in the amount of light received in the Y side light sensing portion and then determines an inclination angle of a line connecting the centers of both light spots on said X-Y coordinates.

2. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 1, wherein rotatory coordinates Xα

-Yα

obtained by rotating said X-Y orthogonal coordinates by said inclination angle are set, and the position of a middle point between both said light spots on said rotatory coordinates Xα

-Yα

is determined in said computing section.

3. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said light emitting section and said detecting section is determined in said computing section on the basis of the distance between the centers of both said light spots and the spacing between both said light sources.

4. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 1 wherein said detecting section has one aperture and quartered light sensing portions divided in the X and Y axis directions.

5. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 1 wherein said detecting section has two apertures, bisected light sensing portions divided in the X axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through one of said apertures, and bisected light sensing portions divided in the Y axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through the other aperture.

8. An input apparatus using the space coordinates detecting device of claim 1, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on one of a fixed apparatus body side and a movable operating member side, and information relating to a relative rotational angle between the light emitting section and the detecting section with respect to an axis connecting both sections is inputted from said operating member to said apparatus body.

23. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said detecting section has one aperture and quartered light sensing portions divided in the X and Y axis directions.

24. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said detecting section has two apertures, bisected light sensing portions divided in the X axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through one of said apertures, and bisected light sensing portions divided in the Y axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through the other aperture.

6. A space coordinates detecting device characterized in that a light emitting section and a detecting section are disposed in spaced relation to each other, with a substantially linearly polarized light being emitted from said light emitting section, said detecting section having two filters for passing therethrough polarization components inclined in directions reverse to each other relative to the polarization direction of light emitted from said light emitting section, said detecting section further having light sensing portions for sensing the lights which have passed through said filters, and there is provided a computing section which determines a relative rotational angle between the light emitting section and the detecting section on the basis of a difference in the amount of received light between the lights which have passed through said filters.

7. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 6, wherein when X-Y orthogonal coordinates which intersect an axis connecting said light emitting section and said detecting section are set, one of said light sensing portions can detect a displacement of a light spot in X axis direction, while the other light sensing portion can detect a displacement of a light spot in Y axis direction.

25. An input apparatus using the space coordinates detecting device of claim 6, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on one of a fixed apparatus body side and a movable operating member side, and information relating to a relative rotational angle between the light emitting section and the detecting section with respect to an axis connecting both sections is inputted from said operating member to said apparatus body.

9. A space coordinates detecting device characterized in that a light emitting section and a detecting section are disposed in positions spaced from each other, said light emitting section having two light sources each adapted to emit a distinguishable light and spaced from each other, said detecting section having a plurality of apertures for throttling the lights emitted from both said light sources into light spots of a predetermined area and also having a plurality of light sensing elements for sensing the light spots in opposed relation to said apertures, said apertures being positioned in Y axis direction when arbitrary X-Y orthogonal coordinates are set, one of said light sensing elements being a Y side light sensing element for detecting movement in the Y axis direction of the light spots and the remaining light sensing element being an X-Y side light sensing element for detecting movement in the X and Y axis directions of the light spots.

10. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 9, including a computing section which determines the positions of the light spots directed to said Y side light sensing element and said X-Y side light sensing element on the basis of the quantity of light received by the Y side light sensing element and that received by a Y side light sensing portion of the Y side light sensing element.

11. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 9, including a computing section which determines the positions of the light spots directed to said X-Y side light sensing element on the basis of the quantity of light received by an X side light sensing portion of said X-Y side light sensing element and that received by a Y side light sensing portion of the X-Y side light sensing element.

12. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 9, wherein said detecting section has two apertures, bisected light sensing elements divided in the Y axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through one of said apertures, and quartered light sensing elements divided in the X and Y axis directions for detecting a light spot which has passed through the other aperture.

13. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 9, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

26. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 10, wherein said detecting section has two apertures, bisected light sensing elements divided in the Y axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through one of said apertures, and quartered light sensing elements divided in the X and Y axis directions for detecting a light spot which has passed through the other aperture.

27. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 11, wherein said detecting section has two apertures, bisected light sensing elements divided in the Y axis direction for detecting a light spot which has passed through one of said apertures, and quartered light sensing elements divided in the X and Y axis directions for detecting a light spot which has passed through the other aperture.

28. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 10, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

29. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 11, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

14. A space coordinates detecting device characterized in that a light emitting section and a detecting section are disposed in positions spaced from each other, said light emitting section having three light sources disposed spacedly from one another and adapted to emit lights distinguishable from one another, said detecting section having a plurality of apertures for throttling the lights emitted from said light sources into light spots of a predetermined area and also having three light sensing elements for sensing the light spots in opposed relation to the apertures, one of said light sensing elements being a Y side light sensing element for detecting movement in Y axis direction of the light spots when arbitrary X-Y orthogonal coordinates are set, another light sensing element being an X side light sensing element for detecting movement in the X axis direction of the light spots, and the remaining light sensing element being an X-Y side light sensing element for detecting movement in both X and Y axis directions of the light spots, said Y side light sensing element and said X-Y side light sensing element being disposed in the Y axis direction, said X side light sensing element and said X-Y side light sensing element being disposed in the X axis direction.

15. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 14, including a computing section which determines the positions of the light spots directed to said Y side light sensing element and said X-Y side light sensing element on the basis of the quantity of light received by the Y side light sensing element and that received by a Y side light sensing portion of the X-Y side light sensing element.

16. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 14, including a computing section which determines the positions of the light spots directed to said X side light sensing element and said X-Y side light sensing element on the basis of the quantity of light received by the X side light sensing element and an X side light sensing portion of the X-Y side light sensing element.

17. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 14, including a computing section which determines the positions of the light spots directed to said X-Y side light sensing element on the basis of the quantity of light received by an X side light sensing portion of said X-Y side light sensing element and that received by a Y side light sensing portion of the X-Y side light sensing element.

18. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 14, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

30. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 15, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

31. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 16, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

32. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 17, wherein said light emitting section is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

19. A space coordinates detecting device characterized in that a light source and a detecting section are disposed in positions spaced from each other, said detecting section having three apertures for throttling light emitted from said light source into light spots of a predetermined area and also having three light sensing portions for sensing the light spots, said apertures being positioned in Y axis direction when arbitrary X-Y orthogonal coordinates are set, one of said light sensing portions being a X side light sensing portion wherein the quantity of light received varies with movement in the X direction of the light spots, and the remaining two light sensing portions being Y side light sensing portions wherein the quantity of light received varies with movement in the Y axis direction of the light spots.

20. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 19, including an angle computing section which determines the angle of inclination between the direction connecting said light source with said detecting section and Z axis intersecting the X-Y orthogonal coordinates on the basis of the quantity of light received in at least one of both said Y side light sensing portions and that received in said X side light sensing element.

21. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 19, including a distance computing section which determines the distance between said light source and said detecting section on the basis of the quantities of lights received in both said Y side light sensing portions.

22. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 19, wherein said light source is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

33. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 20, wherein said light source is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

34. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 21, wherein said light source is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.

35. A space coordinates detecting device according to claim 22, wherein said light source is disposed on an apparatus body side having a screen, while said detecting section is disposed on an operating member side which operating member is operated manually by an operator.