Optical gesture sensor using a single illumination source

• US 8,716,649 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skurnik, David, Kestelli, Nevzat Akin, Veygman, Ilya K., Chamakura, Anand, Edwards, Christopher Francis, Kerness, Nicole, Parvarandeh, Pirooz, Hsu, Sunny Kweisun
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, DON J
• Application Number:
  US13/304,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 250/204, 250/205, 250/552, 250/553, 250/216, 250/221, 250/208.1, 250/239, 250/398, 250/400, 257/294, 257/431, 257/432, 257/433, 257/435, 348135-137, 348152-155, 348/352, 396/120, 396/153, 396/155, 396/590, 362/543, 362/544, 362/546
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

A gesture sensing device includes a single light source and a multiple segmented single photo sensor, or an array of photo sensors, collectively referred to herein as segmented photo sensors. A light modifying structure relays reflected light from the light source onto different segments of the segmented photo sensors. The light modifying structure can be an optical lens structure or a mechanical structure. The different segments of the photo sensor sense reflected light and output corresponding sensed voltage signals. A control circuit receives and processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor.

Claims

1. A device to determine a physical gesture, the device comprising:

a single illumination source configured to emit light;

a plurality of light sensors configured to detect the light reflected from an object and to output time dependent signals in response thereto;

a processing circuit coupled to the plurality of light sensors to analyze the time dependent signals received from the plurality of light sensors and to determine target object directional movement proximate to the plurality of light sensors; and

a light modifying wall structure disposed adjacent to the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure configured to selectively block a portion of the light reflected from the object depending on a position of the object relative to the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure comprising a plurality of layers and a plurality of vias, respective ones of the plurality of layers and the plurality of vias offset in a stair-step fashion with respect to a center axis defined perpendicular to a surface of the light sensor assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the light emitting diode comprises a single light emitting diode.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each light sensor comprises a photodiode.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light sensors comprises an array of individual light sensors.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light sensors comprises a single light sensor partitioned into multiple segments.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sensors are formed on an integrated circuit chip and each light sensor is a photodiode, wherein the light modifying wall structure is coupled to the integrated circuit chip.

8. A device to determine a physical gesture, the device comprising:

a single illumination source configured to emit light;

a light sensor assembly configured to detect the light reflected from an object and to output time dependent signals in response thereto;

a processing circuit coupled to the light sensor assembly and configured to analyze the time dependent signals received from the light sensor assembly and to determine object directional movement proximate to the at least one light sensor; and

a light modifying wall structure disposed generally adjacent to a surface of the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure configured to selectively block a portion of the light reflected from the object depending on a position of the object relative to the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure comprising a plurality of layers extending generally upwardly with respect to a surface of the light sensor assembly, respective ones of the plurality of layers horizontally offset with respect to an underlying layer in a direction extending from a vertical axis defined with respect to the surface.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein each light sensor comprises a photodiode.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the plurality of light sensors comprises an array of individual light sensors.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the plurality of light sensors comprises a single light sensor partitioned into multiple segments.

13. A sensing device comprising:

a single illumination source configured to emit a light;

a light sensor assembly having a processing circuit and configured to detect the light reflected from an object proximate to the sensing device and to analyze the light reflected to determine directional movement of the object; and

a light modifying wall structure disposed generally adjacent to an edge of the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure configured to selectively block a portion of the light reflected from the object depending on a position of the object relative to the light sensor assembly, the light modifying wall structure comprising a plurality of metal layers and a plurality of through-vias, respective ones of the plurality of metal layers horizontally offset with respect to an underlying layer in a direction extending from a vertical axis defined with respect to the surface.