Input apparatus and optical reflection panel module

• US 8,477,118 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lan, Yung-Sung, Cheng, Kuen-Chiuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van
• Application Number:
  US12/906,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 989 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/166
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane

Abstract

An input apparatus including an optical mouse module and a mouse pad module is provided. The optical mouse module includes a light source and an optical sensor. The light source is adapted to emit a light beam. The optical sensor has a sensible distance. The mouse pad module is disposed on the optical mouse module. The mouse pad module includes a sliding sheet elastically coupled to the optical mouse module. The sliding sheet is adapted to move in a three-dimensional space. The optical sensor and the sliding sheet are arranged in an arrangement direction. An operation method of the input apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. An input apparatus, comprising:

a main body, comprising a light source and an optical sensor disposed therein or thereon, wherein the light source is suitable to emit a light beam, and the optical sensor has a sensible distance; and

an optical reflection panel module, disposed on the main body, the optical reflection panel module comprising an optical reflection component, a first stress component, and a second stress component, wherein

a side of the first stress component and a side of the second stress component are connected respectively to the two sides of the optical reflection component, accordingly, the optical reflection component is adapted to move in three-dimensional space, wherein,

the optical sensor and the optical reflection component are arranged along an arrangement direction, when the optical reflection component is pressed to enter within the sensible distance of the optical sensor and moves along a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, the optical reflection component reflects the light beam onto the optical sensor, so that the optical sensor senses a movement of the optical reflection component to the input apparatus along a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, when the optical reflection component is not pressed, the stress generated from the first stress component and the second stress component rebounds the optical reflection component back to outside of the sensible distance, so that the optical sensor is unable to sense a movement of the optical reflection component relative to the input apparatus along the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

2. The input apparatus in claim 1, wherein the optical reflection panel module further comprises a first spacing pad and a second spacing pad, respectively connecting to a first connecting element and a second connecting element of the first stress component and the second stress component, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are respectively located on the other side connection of the first stress component not connected to the optical reflection component, and the other side connection of the second stress component not connected to the optical reflection component, wherein, the first spacing pad and the second spacing pad of the optical reflection panel module is disposed on the main body, and the first spacing pad and the second spacing pad is utilized in the optical reflection component so when the optical reflection component is not pressed, the optical sensor distance exceeds the sensible distance.

3. The input apparatus in claim 2, wherein the first spacing pad and the second spacing pad is welded, adhered, or detachedly disposed to the main body.

4. The input apparatus in claim 2, wherein the first stress component comprises a plurality of first stress elements, sequentially connected in between the optical reflection component and the first spacing pad, the second stress component comprises a plurality of second stress elements, sequentially connected in between the optical reflection component and the second spacing pad, when the optical reflection component is pressed, parts of the stress elements deform to different angles, and create a corresponding stress, so when the optical reflection component is not pressed, the optical reflection component rebounds back to outside of the sensible distance, so the optical sensor is unable to sense a relative movement of the optical reflection component along the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

5. The input apparatus in claim 4, wherein the arrangement of the first stress elements and the second stress elements, generate stresses of different directions according to different materials or different routing densities.

6. An optical reflection panel module, adapted to an input apparatus, wherein the input apparatus comprises at least a light source and an optical sensor, and the optical sensor comprises a sensible distance, wherein the optical reflection panel module is manufactured in integral form, comprising:

an optical reflection component, disposed in the input apparatus with a first direction that exceeds the sensible distance, so as to reflect a light of incidence;

a first spacing pad and a second spacing pad, maintaining a distance between the optical reflection component and the optical sensor; and

a side of a first stress component and a side of a second stress component, respectively connected to the two sides of the optical reflection panel, other side of the first stress component is connected to the first spacing pad, other side of the second stress component is connected to the second spacing pad, wherein

the first stress component and the second stress component elastically compress and extend, performing actuation, and the actuation does not interfere with each other, wherein,

when an external force acts upon the optical reflection component, causing actuation to move the optical reflection component to within the sensible distance, the optical reflection component reflects a light beam to the optical sensor, after sensing the actuation of the optical reflection component, a corresponding signal is generated accordingly, and when there is no external force, the innate elasticity of the first stress component and the second stress component rebounds the optical reflection component to outside of the sensible distance.