Optical detecting apparatus and coordinate inputting apparatus using the detecting apparatus

• US 6,201,605 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• 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: Shiga, Sadakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratliff, Reginald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/085,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 356/394, 356/376, 356/372, 345/165
• US Class Current: 356/394
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An optical detecting apparatus designed to reduce the time taken to stabilize the operation after a moment at which a power supply for the apparatus is turned on, as well as to limit the power consumption in a standby state. Three operating modes: a normal mode, an intermittent mode, and a precharge mode are changed by controlling two switches sw-Led and sw-Ref. In the normal mode, both the switches sw-Led and sw-Ref are maintained in the on state and the circuit of the invention is used for the same operation as the conventional circuit. In the intermittent mode, for the purpose of achieving low power consumption in the standby state, both the switches sw-Led and sw-Ref are turned on and off at a predetermined on-off ratio to make the circuit operate in an intermittent manner (that is, by turning on and off light emitting diodes at a predetermined on-off ratio). In the precharge mode, the switch sw-Led is turned on immediately after turning on the power supply while the switch sw-Ref is maintained in the off state, thereby quickly charging capacitors.

Claims

1. An optical detecting apparatus comprising:

means for outputting light;

stop and pass means for repeating stopping and passing the light output from said light emitting means a certain number of times according to a detected quantity of a predetermined detection object;

light receiving means for outputting a signal of a predetermined potential by receiving light passing through said stop and pass means;

reference potential generation means for generating a predetermined reference potential by charging;

comparison means for comparing a potential output from said light receiving means with the reference potential;

calculation means for calculating the detected quantity based on the result of comparison performed by said comparison means; and

charge control means for quickly charging said reference potential generation means by applying a voltage higher than a normal voltage to said reference potential generation means when a power source for the apparatus is turned on.

2. An optical detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reference potential generation means is charged by having its one end connected to a charging potential, said charge control means including:

charge change means for changing connection and disconnection between said charging potential and a ground by a predetermined resistance value; and

control means for disconnecting, by using said charge change means, said charging potential and the ground for a predetermined time period after a moment at which the power source for the apparatus is turned on.

3. A coordinate inputting apparatus using an optical detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined detection object comprises an amount of movement on a predetermined coordinate axis.

4. An optical detecting apparatus comprising:

means for emitting light by being supplied with electric power from a predetermined power source;

stop and pass means for repeating stopping and passing the light output from said light emitting means a certain number of times according to a detected quantity of a predetermined detection object;

light receiving means for outputting a signal of a predetermined potential by receiving light passing through said stop and pass means;

reference potential generation means for generating a predetermined reference potential by charging;

comparison means for comparing a potential output from said light receiving means with the reference potential;

calculation means for calculating the detected quantity based on the result of comparison performed by said comparison means; and

power control means for changing the power supply to said light emitting means to power supply and stop at a predetermined ratio if no change in state from stop to pass or pass to stop occurs in said stop and pass-means through a predetermined time period.

5. An optical detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of power supply and stop by said power control means is 1:

100.

6. An optical detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said power control means includes:

power change means for changing connection and disconnection beteween said light emitting means and said power source; and

control means for connecting and disconnecting said light emitting means and said power source at the predetermined ratio.

7. A coordinate inputting apparatus using an optical detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined detection object comprises an amount of movement on a predetermined coordinate axis.

8. An optical detecting apparatus comprising:

means for emitting light by being supplied with electric power from a predetermined power source;

stop and pass means for repeating stopping and passing the light output from said light emitting means a certain number of times according to a detected quantity of a predetermined detection object;

light receiving means for outputting a signal of a predetermined potential by receiving light passing through said stop and pass means;

reference potential generation means for generating a predetermined reference potential by charging;

comparison means for comparing a potential output from said light receiving means with the reference potential;

calculation means for calculating the detected quantity based on the result of comparison performed by said comparison means; and

charge and power control means for quickly charging said reference potential generation means by applying a voltage higher than a normal voltage to said reference potential generation means when a power source for the apparatus is turned on, said charge and power control means also for changing the power supply to said light emitting means to power supply and stop at a predetermined ratio if no change in state from stop to pass or pass to stop occurs in said stop and pass means through a predetermined time period.

9. An optical detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ratio of power supply and stop by said charge and power control means is 1:

100.

10. An optical detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said reference potential generation means is charged by having its one end connected to a charging potential, said charge and power control means includes:

charge change means for changing connection and disconnection between said charging potential and a ground by a predetermined resistance value;

power change means for changing connection and disconnection between said light emitting means and said power source; and

control means for disconnecting, by using said charge change means, said charging potential and the ground for a predetermined time period after a moment at which the power source for the apparatus is turned on, for connecting and disconnecting said light emitting means and said power source at the predetermined ratio, and for correcting the reference potential of said reference potential generation means by setting said power change means in the connecting state when said charge change means is set in th econnecting state.

11. A coordinate inputting apparatus using an optical detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined detection object comprises an amount of movement on a predetermined coordinate axis.