Light pipe array lens, optical finger navigation device with the lens and method for making the device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light pipe array lens comprising:
- a monolithic block having first and second surfaces, the monolithic block being made of a first material, the monolithic block including a plurality of parallel cuts within the monolithic block that extend from the first surface of the monolithic block to the second surface of the monolithic block; and
a two-dimensional array of light pipes disposed in the monolithic block such that the light pipes extend from the first surface to the second surface, the light pipes being made of the same first material as the monolithic block, each of the light pipes being enclosed by walls made of a second material having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the first material, wherein the walls are disposed in the plurality of the parallel cuts of the monolithic block and wherein the walls are formed in the parallel cuts of the monolithic block with the second material to define the light pipes that are enclosed by the walls.
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Abstract
An optical finger navigation device and method for making the device uses a light pipe array lens, which includes an array of light pipes formed in a monolithic block of material. The light pipe array lens is configured to function similarly to a fiber bundle lens to transmit light through the lens using the light pipes in the monolithic block of material.
11 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A light pipe array lens comprising:
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a monolithic block having first and second surfaces, the monolithic block being made of a first material, the monolithic block including a plurality of parallel cuts within the monolithic block that extend from the first surface of the monolithic block to the second surface of the monolithic block; and a two-dimensional array of light pipes disposed in the monolithic block such that the light pipes extend from the first surface to the second surface, the light pipes being made of the same first material as the monolithic block, each of the light pipes being enclosed by walls made of a second material having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the first material, wherein the walls are disposed in the plurality of the parallel cuts of the monolithic block and wherein the walls are formed in the parallel cuts of the monolithic block with the second material to define the light pipes that are enclosed by the walls. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 17)
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5. An optical finger navigation device comprising:
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a light source configured to emit light; a light pipe array lens positioned to receive the light reflected from a navigation surface, the light pipe array lens comprising; a monolithic block having first and second surfaces, the monolithic block being made of a first material, the monolithic block including a plurality of parallel cuts within the monolithic block that extend from the first surface of the monolithic block to the second surface of the monolithic block; and a two-dimensional array of light pipes disposed in the monolithic block such that the light pipes extend from the first surface to the second surface, the light pipes being made of the same first material as the monolithic block, each of the light pipes being enclosed by walls made of a second material having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the first material, wherein the walls are disposed in the plurality of the parallel cuts of the monolithic block and wherein the walls are formed in the parallel cuts of the monolithic block with the second material to define the light pipes that are enclosed by the walls; and an image sensor array positioned to receive the light from the light pipe array lens to capture image frames of the navigation surface, the image frames providing displacement information of the navigation surface relative to the optical navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18)
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11. A method of making an optical finger navigation device, the method comprising:
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fabricating a light pipe array lens that includes an array of light pipes in a monolithic block of material having first and second surfaces, the monolithic block including at least one of a plurality of microchannels that extend from the first surface to the second surface and a plurality of parallel cuts that extend from the first surface to the second surface, the light pipes being made of a first material, each of the light pipes being enclosed by walls made of a second material having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the first material, wherein at least some of the light pipes and the walls are disposed in one of the plurality of microchannels and the plurality of the parallel cuts; attaching the light pipe array lens to a navigation sensor having an image sensor array; mounting the navigation sensor with the light pipe array lens onto a substrate; and mounting a light source onto the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification