Navigation device and its beam shaping element

Abstract

A navigation device includes a beam shaping element and a first light source and a second light source with different characteristics. The beam shaping element is used to shape the light beams emitted by the first light source and the second light source to illuminate a working surface with approximately the same incident angle and / or approximately the same beam size.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese invention patent application No. 201910047251.8, filed on January 18, 2019, entitled "Navigation Device and Illumination System and Beam Shaping Element Thereof". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to a navigation device having multiple light sources with different characteristics, its illumination system, and a beam shaping element that causes the multiple light sources to illuminate a working surface at approximately the same angle of incidence. Background Technology

[0003] Optical navigation devices typically include a light source, an image sensor, and a processor. The light source illuminates a working surface. The image sensor detects reflected light from the working surface. The processor calculates the movement relative to the working surface based on image features in image frames acquired by the image sensor.

[0004] For example, refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a known optical navigation device 9. In addition to a light source 91 and an image sensor 93, the optical navigation device 9 also includes a light guide element 95 for guiding the light emitted by the light source 91 to the working surface S, and then guiding the reflected light from the working surface S to the image sensor 93.

[0005] In some cases, the optical navigation device 9 may require multiple light sources. In this case, since the multiple light sources are located in different positions and may even have different light emission characteristics, such as different emission angles and different wavelengths, the known light guide element 95 is not suitable for guiding the beams emitted by different light sources at the same time.

[0006] In view of this, there is a need to propose an illumination system that can simultaneously guide the beams emitted by different light sources to have approximately the same incident angle in order to maintain the light-sensing efficiency of the image sensor 93 relative to different light sources. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a navigation device, its lighting system, and a beam shaping element that enable multiple light sources with different characteristics to emit beams with approximately the same incident angle and / or beam size relative to a working surface, thereby increasing the applicable working surface and expanding the application range.

[0008] The present invention also provides a navigation device having a corresponding shaping mechanism for each of the different light sources, as well as its lighting system and beam shaping element.

[0009] This invention provides a navigation device operating on a working surface. The navigation device includes a first light source, a second light source, and a beam shaping element. The first light source has a first emission angle for emitting a first beam of a first wavelength. The second light source has a second emission angle for emitting a second beam of a second wavelength. The beam shaping element shapes the first beam and the second beam so that the beams of the first beam and the second beam are of the same size on the working surface after passing through the beam shaping element. The beam shaping element includes a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, and a third shaping mechanism. The first shaping mechanism faces the first light source. The second shaping mechanism faces the second light source. The third shaping mechanism faces the working surface, and the third shaping mechanism, the first shaping mechanism, and the second shaping mechanism are respectively located on two opposite sides of the beam shaping element, wherein the first beam and the second beam are emitted from the third shaping mechanism, and the first beam and the second beam partially overlap in the emission area of ​​the third shaping mechanism.

[0010] The present invention also provides a beam shaping element for a navigation device, the beam shaping element being used to shape a beam passing through it, and comprising a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, and a third shaping mechanism. The first shaping mechanism is located on a first side of the beam shaping element and is used to receive a first beam. The second shaping mechanism is located on the first side of the beam shaping element and is used to receive a second beam. The third shaping mechanism is located on a second side of the beam shaping element and is used to output the first beam traveling from the first shaping mechanism to the third shaping mechanism in a first emission region and to output the second beam traveling from the second shaping mechanism to the third shaping mechanism in a second emission region. The first side and the second side are two opposite sides of the beam shaping element, and the first emission region and the second emission region partially overlap. The first beam and the second beam have the same beam size on the working surface after passing through the third shaping mechanism. The shaping effect of the first shaping mechanism on the first beam is different from the shaping effect of the second shaping mechanism on the second beam, and the third shaping mechanism has the same shaping effect on both the first beam and the second beam.

[0011] The present invention also provides a navigation device operating on a working surface. The navigation device includes a first light source, a second light source, and a beam shaping element. The first light source emits a first beam of a first wavelength. The second light source emits a second beam of a second wavelength. The beam shaping element has a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface, and an exit surface, wherein the first beam and the second beam are respectively transmitted to the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, and the first beam and the second beam, after exiting from the same exit surface, have the same beam size on the working surface, and the first light incident surface, the second light incident surface, and the exit surface are two opposite surfaces of the beam shaping element.

[0012] In the navigation device, its lighting system, and beam shaping element of the embodiments of the present invention, the different characteristics of the light source refer to, for example, different wavelengths, different degrees of coherence, different emission angles, and different intensities. Different beam shaping mechanisms have different shaping effects on the beam.

[0013] The beam shaping element is preferably integrally formed, simultaneously possessing a first shaping mechanism, a second shaping mechanism, a third shaping mechanism, and a reflected light shaping mechanism. Other parts of the beam shaping element, such as the feet supported on the device housing or the parts combined with other components of the navigation device, may be integrally formed with the aforementioned shaping mechanisms or glued to the aforementioned shaping mechanisms.

[0014] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent, a detailed description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, which will be stated herein as well. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a known optical navigation device;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the navigation device, its lighting system, and beam shaping element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0018] 200 navigation devices

[0019] 20 substrate

[0020] 21 First Light Source

[0021] 22 Second Light Source

[0022] 23 Image Sensors

[0023] 25 Beam Shaping Elements

[0024] 251 First Plastic Surgery Institution

[0025] 252 Second Plastic Surgery Department

[0026] 25S Third Plastic Surgery Clinic

[0027] 253 Reflected Light Shaping Mechanism

[0028] 29. Shell

[0029] S Working surface

[0030] D1, D2 Pre-determined distance

[0031] A Region of Interest Detailed Implementation

[0032] Please refer to Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of a navigation device 200 and its illumination system and beam shaping element according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 200 includes an illumination system, an image sensor 23, and a housing 29. Figure 2 Only the bottom of housing 29 is shown, and other parts are omitted for simplicity. The lighting system is located inside housing 29 for protection and is situated on the bottom of housing 29.

[0033] For example, the navigation device 200 is an electronic device that operates on a working surface S, such as an optical mouse or a robotic vacuum cleaner. In other embodiments, the working surface S moves relative to the navigation device 200, such as an optical finger-navigation mouse. Therefore, depending on the application, the working surface S may be, for example, a desktop, a floor, or a finger surface. The navigation device 200 may also include a processor (not shown), such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor (MCU), or an ASIC, for calculating its motion trajectory relative to the working surface S.

[0034] The lighting system includes a substrate 20, a first light source 21, a second light source 22, and a beam shaping element 25 disposed opposite the substrate 20. Furthermore, the navigation device 200 includes an image sensor 23, which may be a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor, for outputting image frames at a predetermined frequency. The image sensor 23 is disposed on the substrate 20 and is used to detect reflected first and second beams that are reflected by the working surface S and pass through the beam shaping element 25. For simplified illustration, Figure 2 The reflected first beam and the reflected second beam in the image only show their direction of propagation.

[0035] The substrate 20 can be a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible circuit board (FCB), etc., for mounting the first light source 21, the second light source 22, the image sensor 23, the processor, and other active and passive components. Generally, the substrate 20 and the working surface S have a predetermined distance D2. This predetermined distance D2 is preferably determined before the navigation device leaves the factory to determine the various optical parameters of the beam shaping element 25.

[0036] A first light source 21 is disposed on the substrate 20 and has a first emission angle for emitting a first light beam LB1 of a first wavelength. The first light beam LB1 passes through the beam shaping element 25 to illuminate the region of interest (ROI) A on the working surface S. The first light source 21 may be a light-emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (e.g., VCSEL, but not limited to), or other partially coherent light sources.

[0037] A second light source 22 is disposed on the substrate 20 and has a second emission angle for emitting a second light beam LB2 of a second wavelength. The second light beam LB2 passes through the beam shaping element 25 to illuminate the region of interest A on the working surface S. The second light source 22 may be a light-emitting diode, a laser diode (e.g., VCSEL, but not limited to), or other partially coherent light sources.

[0038] It is understood that some of the light emitted by the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 may not travel in the direction of the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2. In this invention, the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 refer to the main beams emitted by the first light source 21 and the second light source 22.

[0039] In one non-limiting embodiment, the first emission angle of the first light source 21 is equal to the second emission angle of the second light source 22. For example, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are of the same type of light source (both LEDs or laser diodes) and have approximately the same emission angle. However, the first wavelength (its dominant wavelength) of the first light source 21 is different from the second wavelength (its dominant wavelength) of the second light source 22. In some embodiments, different wavelengths of light can be used to illuminate work surfaces of different materials to produce different reflection effects. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are, for example, in the range of red light and / or infrared light.

[0040] In another non-limiting embodiment, the first emission angle of the first light source 21 is different from the second emission angle of the second light source 22; for example, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are different types of light sources. Simultaneously, the dominant wavelength of the first light source 21 is different from the dominant wavelength of the second light source 22.

[0041] In another non-limiting embodiment, the first emission angle of the first light source 21 is different from the second emission angle of the second light source 22, and the dominant wavelength of the first light source 21 is equal to the dominant wavelength of the second light source 22. In some embodiments, different emission angles indicate that the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 have different light intensities or coherence, so as to be suitable for illuminating working surfaces of different materials and producing different reflection effects.

[0042] The beam shaping element 25 is used to shape the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 so that, after passing through the beam shaping element 25, at least one of their incident angles and beam sizes relative to the working surface S is approximately the same. Alternatively, the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 have approximately the same beam size and / or propagation angle after exiting the beam shaping element 25. In this invention, shaping refers to changing the size and / or direction of travel of the beams.

[0043] In one non-limiting embodiment, the beam shaping element 25 includes a first shaping mechanism 251, a second shaping mechanism 252, a third shaping mechanism 25S, and a reflected light shaping mechanism 253.

[0044] The first shaping mechanism 251 is located on the first side of the beam shaping element 25 (e.g., Figure 2 The upper side of the third shaping mechanism 25S has a first light incident surface facing the first light source 21, which is used to receive the first light beam LB1 emitted by the first light source 21. After passing through the first shaping mechanism 251 and the beam shaping element 25, the first light beam LB1 is emitted from the exit surface of the third shaping mechanism 25S and the beam shaping element 25. Figure 2 In this design, the first shaping mechanism 251 is a protruding surface relative to the first side surface of the beam shaping element 25, thus having the effect of focusing the beam, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first shaping mechanism 251 may be a planar or recessed surface relative to different first light sources 21.

[0045] The second shaping mechanism 252 is located on the first side of the beam shaping element 25 and has a second light incident surface facing the second light source 22, for receiving the second beam LB2 emitted by the second light source 22. After passing through the second shaping mechanism 252 and the interior of the beam shaping element 25, the second beam LB2 exits the beam shaping element 25 from the exit surface of the third shaping mechanism 25S. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the second shaping mechanism 252 is shown as a concave surface relative to the first side surface of the beam shaping element 25, thus having the effect of amplifying the beam; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The second shaping mechanism 252 may be a planar or protruding surface relative to different second light sources 22.

[0046] In this embodiment, the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 are transmitted to the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, respectively, and the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 in the beam shaping element 25 are emitted from the exit surface of the beam shaping element 25 to the working surface S.

[0047] The third shaping mechanism 25S is located on the second side of the beam shaping element 25 (e.g., Figure 2 The lower side of the third shaping mechanism 25S faces the working surface S and is used to output the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2. The area of ​​the third shaping mechanism 25S is preferably larger than that of the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the third shaping mechanism 25S is a protruding surface relative to the second side surface of the beam shaping element 25, thus having the effect of focusing the beam, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The third shaping mechanism 25S may be a planar or recessed surface, unlike the different first shaping mechanisms 251 and second shaping mechanisms 252.

[0048] In this invention, since the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are located at different positions and have different characteristics (e.g., different emission angles, dominant wavelengths, coherence, etc.), the shaping effect of the first shaping mechanism 251 on the first beam LB1 is different from the shaping effect of the second shaping mechanism 252 on the second beam LB2, so that the shaped beams have similar beam size and / or transmission direction. For example, one of the first shaping mechanism 251 and the second shaping mechanism 252 is used to expand the beam while the other is used to focus the beam.

[0049] In addition, in order for both the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 to reach the third shaping mechanism 25S, at least one of the following configurations may be selected: (1) the first shaping mechanism 251 and the second shaping mechanism 252 have different heights on the first side of the beam shaping element 25 so as to have different distances from the corresponding first light source 21 and second light source 22; (2) the first shaping mechanism 251 and the second shaping mechanism 252 have different tilt angles on the first side of the beam shaping element 25, wherein, when the distances D1 and D2 are fixed, the tilt angle is determined according to the relative position of the shaping mechanism, the thickness of the beam shaping element 25 and the characteristics of the light source.

[0050] Since both the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 are emitted from the beam shaping element 25 via the third shaping mechanism 25S, the third shaping mechanism 25S has a substantially similar shaping effect on the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2. That is, the beam shaping element 25 of the present invention adjusts beams with different characteristics to have substantially the same size and / or transmission direction through the first shaping mechanism 251 and the second shaping mechanism 252, and the third shaping mechanism 25S is used to guide the emitted beam to the region of interest A. The desired size of the region of interest A will affect the configuration of the third shaping mechanism 25S.

[0051] The reflected light shaping mechanism 253, for example, is a biconvex lens, used to shape the reflected first beam and the reflected second beam so that they can be effectively detected by the image sensor 23. In a non-limiting embodiment, the reflected first beam and the reflected second beam preferably pass through the center of the reflected light shaping mechanism 253, so that even if the reflected first beam and the reflected second beam have different wavelengths, refraction will not occur in the reflected light shaping mechanism 253. That is, as long as the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 have approximately the same angle of incidence relative to the working surface S, the reflected light can be incident on the image sensor 23 in approximately the same direction of propagation. In addition, the reflected light shaping mechanism 253 may also be selected as a biconcave lens or other forms, depending on the size of the region of interest A.

[0052] Please refer to again Figure 2 As shown, in a non-limiting embodiment, the first light source 21 is a light-emitting diode (LED) emitting a first beam LB1 of a first wavelength; and the second light source 22 is a laser diode emitting a second beam LB2 of a second wavelength. A first shaping mechanism 231 faces the LED. A second shaping mechanism 232 faces the laser diode. Since LEDs typically have a larger emission angle than laser diodes, the first shaping mechanism 231 focuses the first beam LB1, and the second shaping mechanism 232 expands the second beam LB2 so that the beam sizes of the shaped first beam and the shaped second beam are close to each other.

[0053] Figure 2 In the diagram, the first shaping mechanism 251 is shown to be farther from the light-emitting diode (LED) and the second shaping mechanism 232 is shown to be closer to the laser diode; however, this is for illustrative purposes only and not to limit the invention. If the first shaping mechanism 251 is chosen to be closer to the LED and the second shaping mechanism 232 to be farther from the laser diode, the curvature, cross-sectional area, and tilt angle of the first shaping mechanism 251 and the second shaping mechanism 252 are simultaneously changed so that both the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 are transmitted to the third shaping mechanism 25S.

[0054] It must be noted that, although Figure 2 The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are displayed in a first direction relative to the image sensor 23 (e.g., Figure 2 The first light source 21 is closer to the image sensor 23 and the second light source 22 is farther from the image sensor 23, but this is only for illustration and not intended to limit the present invention.

[0055] In other non-limiting embodiments, the first light source 21 may be configured to be farther from the image sensor 23 while the second light source 22 is closer to the image sensor 23. Alternatively, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 may be approximately equidistant from the image sensor 23. In this embodiment, the position and tilt direction of the shaping mechanisms corresponding to the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 in the beam shaping element 25 are also adjusted synchronously.

[0056] Beam shaping element 25 is disposed on housing 29, for example Figure 2 The beam shaping element 25 is supported on the bottom of the housing 29 by feet. When manufacturing the beam shaping element 25, the distance D2 between the substrate 20 and the working surface S and the thickness of the housing 29 (e.g., distance D1) are preferably fixed values. This allows the optical characteristics of the first shaping mechanism 251, the second shaping mechanism 252, the third shaping mechanism 25S, and the reflected light shaping mechanism 253 to be determined based on the position of the region of interest A at the bottom opening of the housing 29. These characteristics include, for example, the beam scaling ratio (e.g., curvature), refraction angle, tilt angle, distance relative to the light source, distance relative to the working surface S, and distance relative to the image sensor 23.

[0057] It must be noted that, although Figure 2 The first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are shown to be located in the same space (e.g., surrounded by an opaque element), but the invention is not limited thereto. In other non-limiting embodiments, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are located in different spaces, for example, with a light-blocking element between the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 to prevent the emitted light from interfering with each other.

[0058] It must be noted that, although Figure 2 The first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 exit the beam shaping element 25 directly from the region of the third shaping mechanism 25S without reflection in the beam shaping element 25, but the invention is not limited thereto. In a non-limiting embodiment, at least one of the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 is reflected at least once in the beam shaping element 25 before exiting the beam shaping element 25 from the region of the third shaping mechanism 25S, so that the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 have substantially the same beam size and / or propagation angle after exiting the beam shaping element 25.

[0059] It must be noted that, although Figure 2 The beam shaping element 25 is a one-piece transparent (transparent relative to the first light source 21 and the second light source 22) glass or plastic product, but the invention is not limited thereto. In a non-limiting embodiment, the beam shaping element 25 includes one or more (e.g., one relative to each light source) separate transparent shaping elements such that the first beam LB1 and the second beam LB2 incident on the working surface S have substantially the same incident angle and / or beam size.

[0060] In addition, the navigation device 200 also has a light-shielding portion (e.g., a diagonal portion) surrounding the first light source 21, the second light source 22 and the image sensor 23 to prevent stray light interference.

[0061] In other embodiments, the navigation device 200 includes two or more light sources, and the beam shaping element 25 includes multiple shaping mechanisms relative to the multiple light sources, such that the beams emitted by the multiple light sources illuminate the region of interest A of the working surface S with approximately the same incident angle and / or beam size.

[0062] The method of controlling the image sensor 23 to emit light (synchronously or time-divisionally) relative to the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 to acquire image frames is well known, and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] In summary, known optical navigation devices have a single illumination channel (such as...). Figure 1 However, its use is limited. Therefore, the present invention also provides a navigation device and its lighting system and beam shaping element (…). Figure 2 It has multiple lighting channels and corresponding beam shaping mechanisms. After passing through the beam shaping mechanism, the multiple beams of the multiple lighting channels are adjusted to have approximately the same divergence angle and incident angle to increase the applicable environments.

[0064] While the present invention has been disclosed through the foregoing examples, it is not intended to limit the invention. Anyone skilled in the art to which this invention pertains can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of this invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A navigation device for operating on a work surface, comprising: A first light source having a first emission angle for emitting a first light beam of a first wavelength; A second light source having a second emission angle for emitting a second beam of a second wavelength; as well as A beam shaping element for shaping a first beam and a second beam so that the first beam and the second beam have the same beam size on the working surface after passing through the beam shaping element, wherein the beam shaping element comprises: A first shaping mechanism is located on a first side of the beam shaping element and faces the first light source; A second shaping mechanism is located on the first side of the beam shaping element and faces the second light source; and A third shaping mechanism faces the working surface, and the third shaping mechanism, the first shaping mechanism, and the second shaping mechanism are respectively located on two opposite sides of the beam shaping element. in, To ensure that both the first beam and the second beam reach the same third shaping mechanism, the second shaping mechanism is positioned higher than the first shaping mechanism on the first side. The first beam and the second beam are emitted directly from the third shaping mechanism without being reflected in the beam shaping element, and the first beam and the second beam partially overlap in the emission area of ​​the third shaping mechanism.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein, The first emission angle is equal to the second emission angle, and The first wavelength is different from the second wavelength.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein, The first emission angle is different from the second emission angle, and The first wavelength is different from the second wavelength.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein, The first emission angle is different from the second emission angle, and The first wavelength is equal to the second wavelength.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising: Substrate; and An image sensor, disposed on the substrate, is used to detect a first reflected beam and a second reflected beam that are reflected by the working surface and pass through the beam shaping element. in, The first light source and the second light source are disposed on the substrate along a first direction relative to the image sensor and at different distances from the image sensor.

6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein, The first shaping mechanism has a different shaping effect on the first beam than the second shaping mechanism has on the second beam, and the third shaping mechanism has the same shaping effect on both the first beam and the second beam.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first shaping mechanism and the second shaping mechanism is for expanding the light beam and the other is for focusing the light beam.

8. A beam shaping element for a navigation device, the beam shaping element being used to shape a beam passing through it, and comprising: A first shaping mechanism is located on the first side of the beam shaping element and is used to receive the first beam. A second shaping mechanism is located on the first side of the beam shaping element and is used to receive a second beam. as well as A third shaping mechanism, located on the second side of the beam shaping element, is used to output the first beam from the first shaping mechanism directly to the third shaping mechanism without reflection in the first emission region, and to output the second beam from the second shaping mechanism directly to the third shaping mechanism without reflection in the second emission region, wherein... To ensure that both the first beam and the second beam reach the same third shaping mechanism, the second shaping mechanism is positioned higher than the first shaping mechanism on the first side. The first side and the second side are two opposite sides of the beam shaping element, and the first emission region and the second emission region partially overlap. The first beam and the second beam have the same beam size on the working surface after passing through the third shaping mechanism. The first shaping mechanism has a different shaping effect on the first beam than the second shaping mechanism has on the second beam, and the third shaping mechanism has the same shaping effect on both the first beam and the second beam.

9. A navigation device for operating on a work surface, the navigation device comprising: A first light source, the first light source being used to emit a first light beam at a first emission angle; A second light source, the second light source being used to emit a second beam of light at a second emission angle; and A beam shaping element having a first light incident surface and a second light incident surface on a first side and an exit surface on a second side, wherein... The first light beam and the second light beam are respectively transmitted to the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, and The first beam and the second beam, after being emitted directly from the same exit surface without reflection in the beam shaping element, have the same beam size on the working surface, and The first light incident surface and the second light incident surface, along with the exit surface, are two opposing surfaces of the beam shaping element, and In order for both the first beam and the second beam to reach the same exit surface, the second light incident surface is higher than the first light incident surface on the first side.

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