Optical pointing device and method for detecting an optical pointing

• US 9,588,597 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Hui-Hsuan, Su, Wen-Yen, Liu, Tien-Chia
• Primary Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr., Francis M
• Application Number:
  US14/067,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• 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: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

An optical pointing device for detecting the direction of the user'"'"'s finger is provided. The optical pointing device comprises a cover, a light source and a sensor. The cover comprises a press portion with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, as well as a side wall extending downwards from the periphery of the second surface. The light source projects a main beam onto the press portion of the cover. The main beam then forms a first beam passing through the press portion and a second beam reflected by the second surface. The sensor is adapted to receive the second beam reflected by the second surface, and detect the second beam by an algorithm to output the first displacement position. In addition, the light source and the sensor are covered by the cover, while the side wall is a flexible side wall.

Claims

1. An optical pointing device for detecting a finger'"'"'s direction of a user, comprising:

a cover, comprising a press portion and a side wall, the press portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the side wall extending downward from the periphery of the second surface, and the press portion and the side wall are two separate elements;

a light source, projecting a main beam to the press portion of the cover, wherein the main beam then forms a first beam passing through the press portion and a second beam reflected by the second surface; and

a sensor, being adapted to receive the second beam reflected by the second surface, and detect the second beam by an algorithm to output a first displacement position;

wherein the light source and the sensor are covered by the cover, and the side wall is a flexible side wall, and the side wall is deformable according to a horizontal movement of the press portion.

2. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first beam passing through the press portion is adapted to be reflected by the user'"'"'s finger, and the sensor is adapted to receive the first beam reflected by the user'"'"'s finger.

3. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED light source.

4. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface is formed with a plurality of patterns.

5. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, Polyurethane (PU) and the combination thereof.

6. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the press portion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of Polycarbonate (PC), Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and the combination thereof.

7. The optical pointing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect the first beam by the algorithm to output a second displacement position after receiving the first beam reflected by the user'"'"'s finger.

8. A method for detecting an optical pointing, which is utilized for detecting a finger'"'"'s direction of a user, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a light source and a sensor;

(b) providing a cover covering the light source and the sensor;

(c) projecting a main beam to a press portion of the cover by the light source, and making the main beam form a first beam passing through the press portion and a second beam reflected by a second surface of the press portion;

(d) receiving, by the sensor, the second beam reflected by the second surface of the press portion; and

(e) detecting the second beam by an algorithm to output a first displacement position;

wherein the cover comprises a side wall, the side wall extends downward from the periphery of the second surface, and the side wall is a flexible side wall, and the side wall is deformable according to a horizontal movement of the press portion.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the following steps:

(f) outputting the first displacement position continuously when it is detected that the second beam is reflected in a specific direction and has a specific area.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the press portion comprises a first surface opposite the second surface, and the second surface is formed with a plurality of patterns.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the side wall is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, Polyurethane (PU) and the combination thereof.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the following steps:

(g) reflecting the first beam by the user'"'"'s finger;

(h) receiving, by the sensor, the first beam reflected by the user'"'"'s finger; and

(i) detecting the first beam by the algorithm to output a second displacement position.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the following steps:

(j) outputting the second displacement position continuously when it is detected that the first beam is reflected in a specific direction and has a specific area.