Arrangement for the detection for relative movements or relative position of two objects

• US 6,804,012 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe Civile Galileo 2011
• Original Assignee: 3D Connection GmbH
• Inventors: Gombert, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenberger, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barth, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 356/614, 356/615, 356/620, 356/621, 250/229, 250/231.1, 250/231.19, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/227.21, 250/227.22, 250/208.6, 738/620.41, 738/620.42, 738/620.43, 738/623.24, 735/142.6
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/166 using photoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042

Abstract

An optoelectronic arrangement for the detection of relative movements or relative positions of two objects, with the arrangement comprising at least four optoelectronic elements, characterized in that the optoelectronic elements are arranged in at least one first plane and in a second plane different from the first one in such a manner that at least three optoelectronic elements are arranged in the first plane and at least one optoelectronic element is arranged in the second plane. Further, a force and/or moment sensor provided with this arrangement with a first board and a second board, with the first board and the second board being elastically connected with each other and movable relative to one another. Finally, a personal computer keyboard which is provided with such a force and/or moment sensor.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic arrangement for the detection of relative movements or relative positions of two objects, with the arrangement comprising at least four optoelectronic elements, characterized in that the optoelectronic elements are arranged in at least one first plane and in a second plane different from the first one in such a manner that at least three optoelectronic elements are arranged in the first plane and at least one optoelectronic element is arranged in the second plane.

2. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the at least four optoelectronic elements is either a position sensitive detector (42, 62) or a light emitting means (40, 60) and each position sensitive detector (42, 62) is illuminated by a light emitting means (40,60) in order to form a measuring cell.

3. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that one light emitting means (40,60) illuminates exactly one position sensitive detector (42, 62) each in order to form a measuring cell.

4. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that one light emitting means (40, 60) illuminates at least two position sensitive detectors (42, 62) in order to form two measuring cells with a common light emitting means (40, 60).

5. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the light emitting means (40, 60) are arranged on a closed imaginary first surface in such a manner that their respective emission directions extend into a first inner space which is defined by the first surface.

6. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the position sensitive detectors (42, 62) are arranged on a closed imaginary first surface in such a manner that their respective photosensitive sides face towards a second inner space which is defined by the second surface, and the first and second inner spaces partially or completery coincide.

7. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the optoelectronic arrangement comprises at least six position sensitive detectors (42, 62) for measuring six degrees of freedom and each plane comprises exactly three position sensitive detectors (42, 62).

8. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the position sensitive detectors (42, 62) are oriented at an essentially identical angular distance relative to each other so as to be rotated about an axis which extends essentially perpendicular to the plane in which the position sensitive detectors (42, 62) are arranged.

9. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the planes are arranged essentially parallel to each other.

10. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that one light emitting means (40) of the first plane and one light emitting means (80) of the second plane are arranged in pairs one above the other and a position sensitive detector (42) of the first plane and a position sensitive detector (62) of the second plane are arranged in pairs one above the other in such a manner each that the vertical projections of the two light emitting means (40, 60) or of the two position sensitive detectors (42, 62), respectively, essentially coincide in one of the two planes.

11. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the pairs of position sensitive detectors (42, 62) arranged one above the other each comprise a position sensitive detector (42) for detecting a movement essentially perpendicular to the first or second plane and a position sensitive detector (62) for detecting a movement essentially in the first or second plane.

12. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the measuring cells also comprise one slit diaphragm (44, 64) arranged in the beam path of the light emitting means (40, 60) between the light emitting means (40, 60) and the position sensitive detector (42, 62), with a detector axis of the position sensitive detector (42, 62) being aligned essentially perpendicular to the slit direction of the slit diaphragm (44, 64) and with an element of the system consisting of light emitting means (40,60), slit diaphragm (44, 64), and detector (42, 62) being moveable relative to the two other elements.

13. The optoelectronic arrangement according to claim 12, characterised in that in each measuring cell the slit diaphragm (44, 64) is movable relative to the position sensitive detector (42, 62) and the light emitting means (40, 60).

14. The arrangement according to claim 12, characterised in that the position sensitive detectors (42, 62) and/or the light emitting means (40, 60) are mounted on a printed board (80) which is cylindrical.

15. A force and/or moment sensor with a first board and a second board, with the first board (120) and a second board (140) being elastically connected with each other and moveable relative to one another, characterised by an optoelectronic arrangement for the detection of relative movements or relative positions of two objects according to claim 1.

16. The force and/or moment sensor according to claim 15, characterised in that the first and the second board (120, 140) are connected with each other via at least one spring and/or damping means (122).

17. The force and/or moment sensor according to claim 16, characterised in that the at least one spring and/or damping means (122) comprises one of the following components or combinations thereof:

helical spring, spring assembly, elastomer, cast resin.

18. The force and/or moment sensor according to claim 16, characterised in that the spring and/or damping means (122) are arranged essentially rotation symmetrically.

19. The force and/or moment sensor according to claim 16, characterised in that at least one of the spring and/or damping means (122) comprises at least one helical spring which is firmly connected with the first and second board (120, 140) by soldering.

20. The force and/or moment sensor according to claim 15, characterised by at least one stop means (124) which limits the movement of the first board relative to the second board.

21. A personal computer keyboard, characterised in that it comprises a force and/or moment sensor according to claim 15.