Input device for an electronic device

• US 8,482,524 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knowles IPC Sendirian Berhad (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Asia Pte. Ltd. (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Reinecke, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US12/744,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/161, 345/169, 345/207, 250/200, 250/216, 250/221
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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

Abstract

An input device for an electronic device is disclosed comprising a source of light (2) emitting a light beam in a first direction, a reflecting member (4) for reflecting said light beam, means for allowing tilting of the reflecting member (4) around at least one axis transverse to said first direction, at least one detector (6, 7, 8, 9) detecting the reflected light beam and outputting an electric signal corresponding to light intensity of the detected light beam in a second direction, in which the light beam is reflected, and an electronic circuit deriving a position signal from the at least one electric signal. Said means for allowing tilting of the reflecting member (4) comprise a first bearing (12) having at least one convex surface and at least one concave surface cooperating with each other in a sliding relationship thus enabling said tilting of said reflecting member (4).

Claims

1. An input device for an electronic device, the input device comprising:

a source of light emitting a light beam in a first direction,

a reflecting member for reflecting said light beam,

tilting means for allowing tilting of the reflecting member around at least one axis transverse to said first direction,

at least one detector that detects the reflected light beam and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light intensity of the detected light beam in a second direction, in which the light beam is reflected, and

an electronic circuit adapted to derive a position signal from the at least one electric signal,

wherein said tilting means comprises;

a first bearing having at least one convex surface and at least one concave surface cooperating with each other in a sliding relationship; and

a second bearing having at least one convex surface and at least one concave surface cooperating with each other in a sliding relationship,

wherein said first bearing and said second bearing comprise a common bearing member, said common bearing member carrying said concave surface of said first bearing cooperating with said convex surface arranged on a portion of said reflecting member and further carrying said convex surface of said second bearing cooperating with said concave surface arranged on a portion of said reflecting member thus enabling said tilting of said reflecting member.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said second bearing has a larger diameter than said first bearing.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said first bearing and said second bearing are arranged to be concentric.

4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said cooperating surfaces are cylindrical.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said cooperating surfaces are spherical.

6. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-twist protector for avoiding rotation of the reflecting member around an axis oriented in said first direction.

7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein said anti-twist protector is designed as at least one pin or recess being part of the reflecting member cooperating with a rotationally fast recess or pin, respectively.

8. An input device according to claim 6, wherein the cooperating surfaces of at least one of said first and said second bearings form a non-circular perimeter when viewed in said first direction, thereby forming said anti-twist protector.

9. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising shifting means for allowing shifting of said reflecting member in a direction towards said detector.

10. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising limiting means for limiting the tilting movement of said reflecting member.

11. An input device according to claim 10, wherein said limiting means comprises at least one inclined abutment surface of said bearing member facing a surface of said reflecting member.

12. A mobile electronic device comprising an input device according to claim 1.

13. An input device for an electronic device, the input device comprising:

a source of light emitting a light beam in a first direction;

a reflecting member for reflecting said light beam;

tilting means for allowing tilting of the reflecting member around at least one axis transverse to said first direction;

an elastic member cooperating with said reflecting member for urging the reflecting member into a neutral position after having been tilted around said at least one axis transverse to said first direction;

at least one detector that detects the reflected light beam and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light intensity of the detected light beam in a second direction, in which the light beam is reflected; and

an electronic circuit adapted to derive a position signal from the at least one electric signal,

wherein said tilting means comprises a first bearing having at least one convex surface and at least one concave surface cooperating with each other in a sliding relationship thus enabling said tilting of said reflecting member.

14. An input device according to claim 13, wherein said elastic member is arranged between said reflecting member and said bearing member.

15. An input device according to claim 13, wherein said elastic member is a leaf spring.

16. An input device for an electronic device, the input device comprising:

a source of light emitting a light beam in a first direction;

a reflecting member for reflecting said light beam;

tilting means for allowing tilting of the reflecting member around at least one axis transverse to said first direction;

at least one detector that detects the reflected light beam and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light intensity of the detected light beam in a second direction, in which the light beam is reflected;

shifting means for allowing shifting of said reflecting member in a direction towards said detector, wherein said shifting means is designed as material diminution in said bearing member, said material diminution forming an elastically bendable region; and

an electronic circuit adapted to derive a position signal from the at least one electric signal,

wherein said tilting means comprises a first bearing having at least one convex surface and at least one concave surface cooperating with each other in a sliding relationship thus enabling said tilting of said reflecting member.

17. An input device according to claim 16, wherein said material diminution is arranged between an inner and an outer region of said bearing member, thereby allowing said inner region to be flexed down towards said detector.