Position sensor

• US 7,415,173 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kassamakov, Ivan, Schorpp, Marcus, Vihinen, Pasi
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blevins; Jerry
• Application Number:
  US11/423,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/13, 385/15, 385/16, 385/25, 385/26, 385/31, 250/231.18
• US Class Current: 385/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35345 using Amplitude variations to detect the measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings

Abstract

A hinge position sensor comprises first and second members connected together to provide a hinge, and an optical fiber or wave-guide connected between the first and second members to provide a communication link between the first and second members. A laser or LED is coupled to the optical fiber or wave-guide to transmit optical signals between the first and second members and the optical signal is received by a photo-detector. The optical fiber or wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of the hinge such that light escapes from the optical fiber or wave-guide. The optical power level received by the photo-detector is used to determine the position of the hinge.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first member and a second member rotationally connected to one another so as to provide a hinge;

an optical wave-guide;

a light emitter to transmit light through the optical wave-guide; and

a light detector to detect an optical power level of light emitted from the optical wave-guide;

wherein the optical wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of the hinge and the detected power level is used to determine the position of the hinge.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a physical distortion in the optical wave-guide causes light to escape from the optical wave-guide and affects the optical power level detected by the light detector.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical wave-guide is connected between the first member and the second member so as to traverse the hinge.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined position of the hinge is used to control the operation of an electronic device comprising the apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if the hinge is determined to be in a closed position, the apparatus is configured to switch one or more components of the electronic device to a power saving mode.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is determined to be in a closed position if the detected optical power level reaches a predetermined threshold level.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is included in the first member, the light detector is included in the second member and the optical wave-guide is coupled between the light emitter and the light detector.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hinge is determined to be open if the power level detected by the light detector increases above a predetermined threshold.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hinge is determined to be closed if the power level detected by the light detector falls below a predetermined threshold.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light detector is positioned to directly detect the emission of light from the optical wave-guide, the emission of light being caused by a physical distortion in the wave-guide.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hinge is determined to be closed if the power level of light detected by the light detector increases above a predetermined threshold.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hinge is determined to be open if the power level of light detected by the light detector falls below a predetermined threshold.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, including a further optical wave-guide operable to direct said emission of light from the optical wave-guide to the detector.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the further optical wave-guide is an optical fiber.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises an LED or a laser, and the light detector comprises a photo-detector.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave-guide comprises an optical fibre.

17. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.

18. A method comprising:

transmitting light through an optical wave-guide connected between a first member and a second member;

detecting an optical power level of light emitted from the optical wave-guide, wherein the optical wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of a hinge connected between the first member and the second member; and

determining the position of the hinge based on the detected optical power level.