Input device with optical module for determining a relative position of an object thereon
First Claim
1. An input device, comprising:
- an optical module, comprising;
a light guide plate, being made of a transparent material, having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a side, wherein the transparent material makes the light travel in a way of total reflection between the top surface and the bottom surface within the light guide plate;
a light source, being disposed adjacent to the side of the light guide plate to emit a light to the side, the light traveling within the light guide plate;
a scattering layer, being formed on the bottom surface and being configured to change a reflection path of the partial light hitting on the bottom surface so that the partial light is projected out of the top surface by the scattering layer to form a penetrating light; and
a sensor, having a viewing angle covering at least a part of the bottom surface of the light guide plate, wherein when an object approaches or touches the top surface of the light guide plate, at least a part of the penetrating light is reflected by the object to form a reflected light passing through the light guide plate and then being received by the sensor, and the input device generates a position signal according to the reflected light, the position signal indicating at least one relative position of the object with respect to the top surface of the light guide plate;
wherein the sensor further continuously receives the reflected light so that the input device determines a variance of the at least one relative position over time according to the position signal;
wherein the input device is a mouse, the optical module is used as a mouse wheel, and the variance is used by the input device to generate a control signal which represents one of a 360°
scroll action, a click action and a combination thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device comprising an optical module having a light guide plate, a light source, a scattering layer and a sensor is provided. The light guide plate has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side. The light source emits a light to the side. The light travels within the light guide plate. The scattering layer changes a path of parts of the light on the bottom surface so that the light is projected out of the top surface to form a penetrating light. When an object approaches or touches the top surface of the light guide plate, at least a part of the penetrating light is reflected by the object to form a reflected light received by the sensor. According to the reflected light, the input device generates a position signal indicating at least one relative position of the object with respect to the top surface.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
an optical module, comprising; a light guide plate, being made of a transparent material, having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a side, wherein the transparent material makes the light travel in a way of total reflection between the top surface and the bottom surface within the light guide plate; a light source, being disposed adjacent to the side of the light guide plate to emit a light to the side, the light traveling within the light guide plate; a scattering layer, being formed on the bottom surface and being configured to change a reflection path of the partial light hitting on the bottom surface so that the partial light is projected out of the top surface by the scattering layer to form a penetrating light; and a sensor, having a viewing angle covering at least a part of the bottom surface of the light guide plate, wherein when an object approaches or touches the top surface of the light guide plate, at least a part of the penetrating light is reflected by the object to form a reflected light passing through the light guide plate and then being received by the sensor, and the input device generates a position signal according to the reflected light, the position signal indicating at least one relative position of the object with respect to the top surface of the light guide plate; wherein the sensor further continuously receives the reflected light so that the input device determines a variance of the at least one relative position over time according to the position signal; wherein the input device is a mouse, the optical module is used as a mouse wheel, and the variance is used by the input device to generate a control signal which represents one of a 360°
scroll action, a click action and a combination thereof.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An input device, comprising:
an optical module, comprising; a light guide plate, being made of a transparent material, having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a side, wherein the transparent material makes the light travel in a way of total reflection between the top surface and the bottom surface within the light guide plate; a light source, being disposed adjacent to the side of the light guide plate to emit a light to the side, the light traveling within the light guide plate; a scattering layer, being formed by coating an optical scattering material on the bottom surface and being configured to change a reflection path of the partial light hitting on the bottom surface so that the partial light is projected out of the top surface by the scattering layer to form a penetrating light; and a sensor, having a viewing angle covering at least a part of the bottom surface of the light guide plate, wherein when an object approaches or touches the top surface of the light guide plate, at least a part of the penetrating light is reflected by the object to form a reflected light passing through the light guide plate and then being received by the sensor, and the input device generates a position signal according to the reflected light, the position signal indicating at least one relative position of the object with respect to the top surface of the light guide plate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification