Position-sensing unit and multidimensional pointer comprising one or more such units
First Claim
1. A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in at least one dimension, said position-sensing unit comprising:
- a radiation source having at least two fields, each having a radiating surface, wherein each of the at least two fields includes a radiation-spreading medium, which constitutes the radiating surface and which coacts with a separate radiation unit associated with the field, a detector for detecting radiation from the respective fields, radiation from one field being distinguishable from radiation from other fields, a screen element which is arranged in the beam path between the radiation source and the detector and which, for each determination of a position and seen from the perspective of the detector, partially screens off at least one of the fields but does not completely screen off any one of the fields, at least one of the radiation source and the detector being so movable relative to the screen element in a first direction transversely of the direction of radiation that such a relative movement causes a relative change of the screening-off of the fields, and means for determining a relative position in said first direction between the screen and at least the one of the radiation source and the detector, based on a comparison between radiation detected by the detector and received from the respective radiating fields.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in one or more dimensions of two units. One or more position-sensing units can be used in a multidimensional pointer, such as a control lever, for controlling a position in up to six dimensions of, e.g., and object on a display. A position-sensing unit comprises a radiation source, a detector and a screen element arranged in the beam path for partial screening off of radiation. The radiation source and the detector comprise individual or separate fields for emitting or detecting radiation, in which case it is possible to distinguish radiation associated with one field from radiation associated with other fields. The determination of a position is carried out based on a comparison between the intensities of non-screened-off radiation associated with the different fields. A radiation-spreading medium can be used in the fields to create “virtual” radiation surfaces and detector surfaces, respectively, in combination with separate radiation units and detector units, respectively.
17 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in at least one dimension, said position-sensing unit comprising:
-
a radiation source having at least two fields, each having a radiating surface, wherein each of the at least two fields includes a radiation-spreading medium, which constitutes the radiating surface and which coacts with a separate radiation unit associated with the field, a detector for detecting radiation from the respective fields, radiation from one field being distinguishable from radiation from other fields, a screen element which is arranged in the beam path between the radiation source and the detector and which, for each determination of a position and seen from the perspective of the detector, partially screens off at least one of the fields but does not completely screen off any one of the fields, at least one of the radiation source and the detector being so movable relative to the screen element in a first direction transversely of the direction of radiation that such a relative movement causes a relative change of the screening-off of the fields, and means for determining a relative position in said first direction between the screen and at least the one of the radiation source and the detector, based on a comparison between radiation detected by the detector and received from the respective radiating fields. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
2. A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in at least one dimension, said position-sensing unit comprising:
-
a detector with at least two fields each having a radiation-detecting surface, wherein each of the at least two fields includes a radiation-spreading medium, which constitutes the radiation-detecting surface and which coacts with a separate detection unit associated with the field, a radiation source for emitting radiation to the respective fields, radiation detected by one field being distinguishable from radiation detected by other fields, a screen element which is arranged in the beam path between the detector and the radiation source and which, for each determination of a position and seen from the perspective of the radiation source, partially screens off at least one of the fields but does not completely screen off any one of the fields, at least one of the detector and the radiation source being so movable relative to the screen element in a first direction transversely of the direction of the radiation that such a relative movement causes a relative change of the screening-off of the fields, and means for determining a relative position in said first direction between the screen element and at least the one of the radiation source and the detector, based on a comparison between radiation which is detected by the detector and which falls on the respective radiation-detecting fields.
-
Specification