Optical scrolling module and optical control module

• US 8,957,849 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Hui-Hsuan, Lai, Hung-Ching, Liu, Tien-Chia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEINBERG, JEFFREY S
• Application Number:
  US13/400,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/30 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An optical scrolling module includes a prism, a light source, an image sensor and a first condenser. The prism is disposed at an opening of an upper shell of a mouse and has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a contact surface and a light emitting surface. The contact and light incident surfaces are respectively connected between the reflective and light emitting surfaces. The contact surface is exposed by the opening. A light beam from the light source is transmitted to the contact surface via the light incident and reflective surfaces. When an object with a pattern structure puts on the contact surface, the light beam is scattered and a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor via the first condenser. When the object is removed from the contact surface, the light beam is reflected to the light emitting surface by the contact surface.

Claims

1. An optical scrolling module for a mouse, the mouse having a housing and a circuit board disposed in the housing, the optical scrolling module comprising:

a light source disposed on the circuit board for providing a light beam;

a light incident surface, a reflective surface and a contact surface, wherein the light incident surface is configured for the light beam to be incident on the light incident surface, and the contact surface is adapted for the light beam to pass through and be reflected by a finger; and

an image sensor disposed on the circuit board,

wherein all of the light beam is transmitted through the light incident surface and then reaches the reflective surface before reaching the contact surface and the finger, the light beam is scattered and reflected by the finger and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor, the light beam is reflected to the contact surface but the light beam is not emitted to the sensor when the finger is removed, the contact surface is a plane surface, and a depth of field of the first condenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

2. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first condenser comprises at least a lens.

3. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second condenser disposed between the light source and the prism.

4. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second condenser comprises at least a lens.

10. The optical scrolling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein an included angle between the reflective surface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the light incident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

5. An optical control module, comprising:

a light source for providing a light beam;

a light incident surface, a reflective surface and a contact surface, wherein the light incident surface is configured for the light beam to be incident on the light incident surface, and the contact surface is adapted for the light beam to pass through and be reflected by a finger; and

an image sensor,

wherein all of the light beam is transmitted through the light incident surface and then reaches the reflective surface before reaching the contact surface and the finger, the light beam is scattered and reflected by the finger, and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor, the light beam is reflected to the contact surface but the light beam is not emitted to the sensor when the finger is removed, the contact surface is a plane surface, and a depth of field of the first condenser is between 5 millimeters and 30 millimeters.

6. The optical control module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first condenser comprises at least a lens.

7. The optical control module as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a second condenser disposed between the light source and the prism.

8. The optical control module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second condenser comprises at least a lens.

9. The optical control module as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a circuit board, wherein the light source and the image sensor are disposed on the circuit board.

11. The optical control module as claimed in claim 5, wherein an included angle between the reflective surface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the light incident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

12. An optical scrolling module for a mouse, the mouse having a housing and a circuit board disposed in the housing, the optical scrolling module comprising:

a light source disposed on the circuit board for providing a light beam;

a light incident surface, a reflective surface and a contact surface, wherein the light incident surface is configured for the light beam to be incident on the light incident surface, and the contact surface is adapted for the light beam to pass through and be reflected by a finger; and

an image sensor disposed on the circuit board,

wherein all of the light beam is transmitted through the light incident surface and then reaches the reflective surface before reaching the contact surface and the finger, the light beam is scattered and reflected by the finger and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor, the light beam is reflected to the contact surface but the light beam is not emitted to the sensor when the finger is removed, the contact surface is a plane surface, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the light incident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

13. An optical control module, comprising:

a light source for providing a light beam;

a light incident surface, a reflective surface and a contact surface, wherein the light incident surface is configured for the light beam to be incident on the light incident surface, and the contact surface is adapted for the light beam to pass through and be reflected by a finger; and

an image sensor,

wherein all of the light beam is transmitted through the light incident surface and then reaches the reflective surface before reaching the contact surface and the finger, the light beam is scattered and reflected by the finger, and then a portion of the light beam is transmitted to the image sensor, the light beam is reflected to the contact surface but the light beam is not emitted to the sensor when the finger is removed, the contact surface is a plane surface, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the contact surface is between 50 degrees and 125 degrees, and an included angle between the reflective surface and the light incident surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.