Infrared positioning apparatus and system thereof

• US 8,247,772 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generalplus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Generalplus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Liao, Tung Tsai, Lo, Li Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maupin, Hugh H
• Application Number:
  US12/698,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.4
• US Class Current: 250/338.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0275 Control or determination of height or distance or angle information for sensors or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/042 the devices being arranged next to each other solar cells H01L31/042
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02024 Position sensitive and lateral effect photodetectors; Quadrant photodiodes

Abstract

An infrared positioning apparatus comprises a plurality of infrared diodes, a plurality of amplifying units, a plurality of converting units and a positioning unit. The plurality of infrared diodes is configured to detect at least one infrared signal. The plurality of amplifying units are configured to amplify the at least one infrared signal for obtaining at least one amplified signal. The plurality of converting units are configured to convert the at least one amplified signal for obtaining at least one strength value of the at least one amplified signal. The positioning unit is configured to obtain the emitting direction of the at least one infrared signal in accordance with the at least one strength value of the at least one amplified signal.

Claims

1. An infrared positioning apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first infrared diodes configured to detect at least one infrared signal, wherein the plurality of first infrared diodes is arranged on a plane;

a plurality of amplifying units configured to amplify the at least one infrared signal for obtaining at least one amplified signal;

a plurality of converting units configured to convert the at least one amplified signal for obtaining at least one strength value;

at least one second infrared diode configured to detect the at least one infrared signal, wherein an arranged direction of the second infrared diode is perpendicular to arranged directions of the plurality of first infrared diodes; and

a positioning unit configured to obtain an emitting direction of the at least one infrared signal in accordance with the at least one strength value.

2. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein horizontal detecting angles of the first infrared diodes are greater than included angles of arranged directions of every two adjacent first infrared diodes.

3. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a frequency-shift keying (FSK) scheme or an amplitude-shift keying (ASK) scheme is utilized for modulating the at least one infrared signal.

4. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of filtering units configured to obtain at least one carrier signal of the at least one infrared signal.

5. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a decoding unit configured to decode the at least one carrier signal for obtaining at least one command signal.

6. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of converting units comprises a high-speed analog-to-digital converter.

7. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of converting units comprises a packet detector and an analog-to-digital converter.

8. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second infrared diode is arranged on the plurality of first infrared diodes or both on and beneath the plurality of first infrared diodes.

9. An infrared positioning apparatus comprising:

at least one infrared emitting diode configured to emit at least one first infrared signal;

at least one light guide unit configured to guide the at least one first infrared signal;

a plurality of first infrared diodes configured to detect a reflective signal of the at least one first infrared signal or to detect at least one second infrared signal, wherein the plurality of first infrared diodes is arranged on a plane and included angles of arranged directions for every two adjacent first infrared diodes are equal;

a plurality of amplifying units configured to amplify the reflective signal or the at least one second infrared signal, so as to obtain at least one amplified signal;

a plurality of converting units configured to convert the at least one amplified signal for obtaining at least one strength value; and

a positioning unit configured to obtain a source direction of the reflective signal or the at least one second infrared signal in accordance with the at least one strength value;

wherein the at least one infrared emitting diode is arranged on the plurality of first infrared diodes or both on and beneath the plurality of first infrared diodes.

10. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 9, wherein horizontal detecting angles of the first infrared diodes are greater than included angles of arranged directions of every two adjacent first infrared diodes.

11. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 9, wherein a frequency-shift keying (FSK) scheme or an amplitude-shift keying (ASK) scheme is utilized for modulating the at least one first infrared signal and the at least one second infrared signal.

12. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of filtering units configured to obtain at least one carrier signal of the at least one reflective signal or the at least one second infrared signal.

13. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a decoding unit configured to decode the at least one carrier signal for obtaining at least one command signal.

14. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of converting units comprises a high-speed analog-to-digital converter.

15. The infrared positioning apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of converting units comprises a packet detector and an analog-to-digital converter.

16. An infrared positioning system comprising an infrared emitting diode and an infrared positioning apparatus, wherein the infrared positioning apparatus comprises:

a plurality of first infrared diodes configured to detect at least one infrared signal, wherein the plurality of first infrared diodes is arranged on a plane;

a plurality of amplifying units configured to amplify the at least one infrared signal for obtaining at least one amplified signal;

a plurality of converting units configured to convert the at least one amplified signal for obtaining at least one strength value;

at least one second infrared diode configured to detect the at least one infrared signal, wherein an arranged direction of the second infrared diode is perpendicular to arranged directions of the plurality of first infrared diodes; and

a positioning unit configured to obtain an emitting direction of the at least one infrared signal in accordance with the at least one strength value.

17. The infrared positioning system of claim 16, wherein horizontal detecting angles of the first infrared diodes are greater than included angles of arranged directions of every two adjacent first infrared diodes.

18. The infrared positioning system of claim 16, wherein a frequency-shift keying (FSK) scheme or an amplitude-shift keying (ASK) scheme is utilized for modulating the at least one infrared signal.

19. The infrared positioning system of claim 16, wherein the second infrared diode is arranged on the plurality of first infrared diodes or both on and beneath the plurality of first infrared diodes.