Navigation device capable of improving light utilization rate and ray machine thereof

Abstract

A navigation device includes a light source, a light guide, and a light sensor. The navigation device operates relative to the work surface. The light source generates an illumination light beam, and the illumination light beam passes through the light guide piece to form an illumination area on the working surface. The light sensor receives reflected light from the illumination area through the light guide piece. When a working gap between the navigation device and the working surface is increased, a first size of the illumination area in a first direction is approximately the same as a first initial size of the illumination light beam in the first direction when the illumination light beam just leaves the light guide piece; and a second size of the illumination area in a second direction is smaller than a second initial size of the illumination light beam in the second direction when the illumination light beam just leaves the light guide piece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to an optical navigation device and an optical machine thereof which improves light utilization by configuring a semi-collimated illumination beam. Background Art

[0002] An optical mouse is usually placed on a work surface for user operation. The optical mouse can be used to relatively control the cursor position of a display screen by using a light sensor to detect the relative displacement between the optical mouse and the work surface.

[0003] Some optical mice can be operated in a hover mode, that is, the optical mouse is operated at a height above the work surface instead of being placed directly on the work surface, and performs different functions according to different heights.

[0004] However, when the distance between the optical mouse and the working surface is larger, the light power reflected from the working surface to the optical sensor is lower, especially when the working surface is not a mirror. Even if the hovering operation is within the predetermined working gap range, there is still a significant attenuation of the detection light power as the working gap increases, thereby reducing the light utilization rate of the optical mouse. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides an optical machine and an optical navigation device using the optical machine, which form an illumination beam cross section and a working gap in a lateral direction within the working gap, and have an inverse effect compared with a general optical mouse, so as to improve light utilization.

[0006] The present invention provides an optical machine capable of forming a semi-collimated illumination beam within a working gap (ie, the distance from a working surface) and a navigation device using the optical machine, so as to improve light utilization efficiency.

[0007] The present invention provides a navigation device comprising a light guide, a light source and a light sensor. The light guide comprises a first lens and a second lens. The light source is used to emit an illumination light beam through the first lens to form an illumination area on the working surface. The light sensor is arranged on one side of the first direction of the light source and is used to receive reflected light from the illumination area through the second lens, wherein the navigation device has a working gap with the working surface, and when the working gap gradually increases, the first size of the illumination area in the first direction remains unchanged, while the second size in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction gradually decreases.

[0008] The present invention also provides a navigation device comprising a light guide, a light source and a light sensor. The light guide comprises a first lens and a second lens. The light source is used to emit an illumination light beam through the first lens to form an illumination area on the working surface. The light sensor is arranged on one side of the first direction of the light source, and is used to receive reflected light from the illumination area through the second lens, wherein when the distance between the navigation device and the working surface is within the operable working gap, the first size of the illumination area in the first direction is equal to the first reference size when the illumination light beam leaves the first lens, and the second size of the illumination area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than the second reference size when the illumination light beam leaves the first lens.

[0009] The present invention also provides an optical machine of a navigation device comprising a circuit board, a light guide and a light source. The navigation device is used to operate relative to a work surface. The light source is arranged on the circuit board and is used to emit an illumination light beam through the light guide to form an illumination area on the work surface, wherein a first dimension of the illumination area in a first direction is equal to a first reference dimension when the illumination light beam leaves the light guide, and a second dimension of the illumination area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a second reference dimension of the illumination light beam in the second direction when the illumination light beam leaves the light guide.

[0010] In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious, the following will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the description of the present invention, the same components are represented by the same symbols, which are hereby described together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a side view of the navigation device of the first embodiment of the present invention in the X direction;

[0012] Figure 2 is a side view of the navigation device of the first embodiment of the present invention in the Y direction;

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of illumination areas formed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention with respect to different working gaps;

[0014] 4( a ) and 4( b ) are side views of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention in the X direction and in the Y direction respectively; and

[0015] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the illumination areas formed by the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention with respect to different working gaps.

[0016] Description of Reference Numerals

[0017] 100 Navigation Device

[0018] 10 Circuit Board

[0019] 11 Light Source

[0020] 110 lighting beam

[0021] 13 Light guide

[0022] 131 First lens

[0023] 132 Second lens

[0024] 15 Light Sensor

[0025] 151 Aperture

[0026] 19 Housing

[0027] 80_1, 80_2, 80_3 lighting area

[0028] AOI Sensing Area DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] One object of the present invention is to provide an optical navigation device operable in a hovering mode. The size of the illumination area of ​​the optical navigation device during the hovering operation is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the illumination light beam just leaving the light guide, so that the light energy is concentrated as much as possible near the sensing area AOI (area of ​​interest) of the optical sensor 15, and the proportion of light energy irradiated outside the sensing area AOI is reduced.

[0030] In one embodiment, as the vertical height of the suspension operation, for example, referred to as the working gap in the present invention, increases, the size of the illumination area in the horizontal direction gradually decreases, so as to further achieve the effect of compensating for the attenuation of the energy received by the light sensor 15 as the vertical height of the suspension operation increases. Preferably, the light sensor 15 is configured to detect the same light energy at different working gaps, for example, the reduction ratio of the illumination beam can be determined by detecting the output of the light sensor 15 before leaving the factory.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, Figure 1 is a side view of the optical navigation device 100 (referred to as the navigation device 100 in this specification) according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the X direction; Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a side view of the navigation device 100 in the Y direction according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] The navigation device 100 is used to operate relative to a work surface. The work surface is, for example, located at one of the displayed work gaps WG1, WG2, and WG3. The material of the work surface can be, for example, metal, glass, cloth, a printed object, a painted object, or a combination thereof, without specific limitation. The work surface can be a transparent surface, a semi-transparent surface, a diffuse surface, etc., without specific limitation.

[0033] The navigation device 100 includes a housing 19 and an optical engine located in the housing 19. The optical engine is used to generate an illumination beam 110 that is transmitted to a working surface outside the housing 19 through an opening of the housing 19, and receives reflected light from the working surface through the opening. The navigation device 100 is, for example, an optical mouse, an e-sports mouse, a finger mouse, etc., without specific limitation.

[0034] It must be pointed out that Figure 1 and Figure 2 Only a portion of the shell 19 (such as the bottom surface) is shown. The shell 19 also includes other parts that are wrapped around the outside of the optical machine for user operation. However, since the other parts of the shell 19 are not the main purpose of the present invention, they are omitted and not drawn.

[0035] The optical machine of the navigation device 100 includes a circuit board 10 , a light source 11 , a light guide 13 and a light sensor 15 .

[0036] The circuit board 10 is, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible substrate (FB), etc., without specific limitations. In one embodiment, the circuit board 10 and the light guide 13 are combined (for example, by adhesive, a locking member, or a latch, without specific limitations) with the housing 19 or a fixing member in the housing 19 to fix their positions in the housing 19. In another embodiment, the light guide 13 is combined with the circuit board 10, and the circuit board 10 is combined with the housing 19 or a fixing member in the housing 19.

[0037] The light source 11 and the light sensor 15 are disposed on the circuit board 10 and electrically connected thereto. The light guide 13 is an integrally formed structure made by, for example, injection molding, but is not limited thereto, and has a first lens 131 and a second lens 132. In another embodiment, the light guide 13 can also be a combination of multiple structures.

[0038] The light source 11 is, for example, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD), and is used to emit a recognizable spectrum, such as red light and / or infrared light, but is not limited thereto. The light source 11 is used to emit an illumination light beam 110 through the first lens 131 of the light guide 13 to form an illumination area on the working surface, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 Illumination areas 80_1 , 80_2 , 80_3 corresponding to different working gaps WG1 , WG2 , WG3 , respectively, are shown.

[0039] It should be noted that the working surface can be located at any position between WG1 and WG3, depending on the user's operation. The distance between WG1 and WG3 can be called the working depth of field, which represents the operable longitudinal working distance of the navigation device 100.

[0040] The optical sensor 15 is, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, or other sensors that convert optical signals into electrical signals, and is not particularly limited. The optical sensor 15 is disposed in a first direction (eg, Figure 1 The optical sensor 15 has an aperture 151 to have a corresponding sensing area AOI in the illumination area through the light guide 13, for example Figure 1 and Figure 2 The sensing area AOI is shown to correspond to different working intervals WG1, WG2, and WG3. That is, the size and position of the sensing area AOI are determined according to the position of the aperture 151 and the size and position of the optical sensor 15, and its shape is not limited to the rectangle in the figure, but can be any other shape.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, since the illumination light beam 110 is deflected toward the direction of the light sensor 15 (i.e., the first direction Y) after passing through the first lens 131, the operable longitudinal working gap (i.e., the working depth of field) of the optical machine (and the navigation device 100) is determined according to the crossed range of the sensing area AOI of the light sensor 15 and the illumination area of ​​the light source 11.

[0042] Please also refer to Figure 3 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of illumination areas 80_1, 80_2, 80_3 formed by the navigation device 100 at different working gaps WG1, WG2, WG3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein reference numeral 80_0 represents a cross section of the illumination light beam 110 just leaving the first lens 131, for example, located at WG0. When the working surface is located at the working gap WG1, the sensing area AOI is located at one side of the illumination area 80_1 ( Figure 3 When the working surface is located at the working gap WG3, the sensing area AOI is located at the other side of the illumination area 80_3 ( Figure 3 The maximum working gap is determined by (but not limited to) the right side. Figure 3It can be seen that when the sensing area AOI exceeds the left edge of the lighting area 80_1 or the right edge of 80_3, the optical sensor 15 cannot receive the reflected light of the lighting area, thereby determining the range of the operable longitudinal working gap of the navigation device 100 (determined by the interlaced range of the sensing area AOI and the lighting area).

[0043] Figure 3 and Figure 5 In , a higher density of dots in the illuminated area is used to represent a higher light intensity.

[0044] In addition, since the illumination beam 110 is not deflected in the X direction (referred to as the second direction in the present invention), the sensing area AOI will not be displaced in the X direction relative to different working gaps. Figure 2 shown.

[0045] In the present invention, the first dimension (e.g., length) of the illumination area in the first direction Y is equal to the first reference dimension (e.g., the length of 80_0 of WG0 in the Y direction) of the illumination light beam 110 when it just leaves the light guide 13, and the second dimension (e.g., width) of the illumination area in the second direction X perpendicular to the first direction Y is smaller than the second reference dimension (e.g., the width of 80_0 of WG0 in the X direction) of the illumination light beam 110 in the second direction X when it just leaves the light guide 13.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 In the first embodiment, when the working gap increases gradually (for example, the order is WG1→WG2→WG3), the first size of the illumination area in the first direction Y remains unchanged (for example Figure 1 and Figure 3 The first and second dimensions 80_1, 80_2, and 80_3 are shown to have substantially the same length in the direction Y, and gradually decrease in the second dimension in the second direction X perpendicular to the first direction Y (eg Figure 2 and Figure 3 The widths of the displays 80_1 , 80_2 , and 80_3 in the direction X gradually decrease. That is, the illumination light beam 110 gradually converges in the second direction X after passing through the first lens 131 of the light guide 13 .

[0047] In one embodiment, the first lens 131 is configured such that the second size of the illumination area is reduced by 20% to 30% at the lowest point (eg WG3) of the operable longitudinal height (ie, working depth of field) compared to the highest point (eg WG1).

[0048] In another embodiment, the first lens 131 is configured such that the optical power per unit area of ​​the illumination area at the lowest point (eg, WG3) of the operable longitudinal height increases by 20% to 30% compared with the highest point (eg, WG1).

[0049] Please refer to FIG. 4( b ), which is a side view of the navigation device 100 ′ in the Y direction according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the navigation device 100 ′ in the X direction according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as Figure 1 The same as above, except that the design of the first lens 131 ′ of the light guide 13 ′ and the characteristics related to the design change are different, as shown in FIG. 4( a ) of the second embodiment.

[0050] In the second embodiment, when the distance between the navigation device 100' and the working surface is within the operable working gap (for example, between WG1 and WG3), the first dimension of the illumination area in the first direction Y (for example, the lengths of 80_1', 80_2', and 80_3' in the first direction Y shown in FIG4(a)) is equal to the first reference dimension of the illumination light beam 110' just leaving the first lens 131' of the light guide 13' (for example, the length of 80_0' in the first direction Y shown in FIG4(a)), and the second dimension of the illumination area in the second direction X perpendicular to the first direction Y (for example, the lengths of 80_1', 80_2', and 80_3' in the second direction X shown in FIG4(b)) is smaller than the second reference dimension of the illumination light beam 110' just leaving the first lens 131' of the light guide 13' (for example, the length of 80_0' in the second direction X shown in FIG4(b)).

[0051] Please also refer to Figure 5 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the illumination areas (e.g. 80_1', 80_2', 80_3') corresponding to different working gaps (e.g. WG1, WG2, WG3) of the navigation device 100' according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the area labeled 80_0' represents the cross section of the illumination light beam 110' just leaving the first lens 131' of the light guide 13'. Figure 5 It can be seen that the first size of the illumination areas 80_1 ′, 80_2 ′, 80_3 ′ in the first direction Y is equal to the first reference size of 80_0 ′; and the second size of the illumination areas 80_1 ′, 80_2 ′, 80_3 ′ in the second direction X is smaller than the second reference size of 80_0 ′.

[0052] 4( b ), after the illumination beam 110 ′ passes through the first lens 131 ′, a beam waist is formed in the second direction X at a predetermined longitudinal distance, for example, shown as BW. The beam waist refers to a point or section of the illumination beam 110 ′ having the smallest cross-sectional area in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] In one embodiment, the lowest point of the operable working gap of the navigation device 100' (eg WG3) is located at the light waist, thus forming a Figure 3 The effect is that the larger the working gap is, the smaller the beam width in the second direction X is. In this embodiment, the entire operable working gap is located above the beam waist.

[0054] In another embodiment, the midpoint of the operable working gap of the navigation device 100' (eg, WG2) is located at the light waist as shown in FIG. 4(b), so that a similar Figure 5 The effect is that, in the operating gap, the beam width in the second direction X is smaller than the second reference size when the illumination beam 110 ′ just leaves the first lens 131 ′.

[0055] It must be noted that the length and width described in the description of the present invention are only for indicating the dimensions in different directions, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0056] In order to form the semi-collimated illumination beam of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the first lens 131 / 131' can be configured as one of the following: the first lens 131 / 131' has a first biconic lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and a second biconic lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b); the first lens 131 / 131' has an axially symmetrical lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and a biconic lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b); the first lens 131 / 131' has a biconic lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and an axially symmetrical lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b); the first lens 131 / 131' has a first cylindrical lens surface in the first direction. The first lens 131 / 131' has an axially symmetrical lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and a cylindrical lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b) in the second direction; the first lens 131 / 131' has an axially symmetrical lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and a cylindrical lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b) in the second direction; the first lens 131 / 131' has a cylindrical lens surface as the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a) and an axially symmetrical lens surface as the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b) in the second direction.

[0057] In general, as long as different curved surfaces are formed in the first direction Y and the second direction X when forming the light incident surface (i.e., the first surface 131(a) / 131'(a)) and the light emitting surface (i.e., the second surface 131(b) / 131'(b)) of the first lens 131 / 131', so that the illumination light beam 110 / 110' forms a semi-collimated illumination light beam when passing through the first lens 131 / 131', it is not limited to what is disclosed in the present invention.

[0058] It must be stated that although Figure 1 The detection area AOI of the optical sensor 15 is shown to be offset toward the position of the light source 11, but this is only for illustration and is not intended to limit the present invention. In a navigation device with a high working depth of field, the detection area AOI of the optical sensor 15 can be configured directly below the optical sensor 15 by simply changing the optical path of the second lens 132, as shown in U.S. Patent Application No. US17 / 535,662.

[0059] In the present invention, the navigation device 100 / 100' further comprises a processor, such as a microprocessor (MCU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable digital logic (FPGA) for performing post-processing according to the output of the light processor 15. The post-processing depends on the application of the navigation device 100 / 100'.

[0060] In summary, in an optical navigation device capable of performing a floating operation, when the working surface is not a mirror, there is a problem that the working gap increases and the received light power of the optical sensor decreases. Therefore, the present invention further provides an optical machine for generating a convergent illumination beam and an optical navigation device using the optical machine (refer to Figure 2 4(b)). The optical machine forms a collimated light beam in the first direction and a convergent light beam in the second direction to form a semi-collimated illumination light beam after leaving the light guide. In this way, the light beam size can be maintained in the first direction to maintain the working depth of field of the navigation device, and the light beam size can be reduced in the second direction to improve light utilization.

[0061] Although the present invention has been disclosed through the above examples, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art with ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A navigation device for operating relative to a work surface, comprising: A light guide, the light guide comprising a first lens and a second lens; a light source for emitting an illumination light beam through the first lens to form an illumination area on the work surface; and a light sensor, the light sensor being disposed on one side of the first direction of the light source and being used for receiving reflected light from the illumination area through the second lens, in, There is a working gap between the navigation device and the working surface, and when the working gap gradually increases, a first size of the illumination area in the first direction remains unchanged, while a second size in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction gradually decreases.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: The light sensor has a corresponding sensing area in the illumination area through the second lens, and The sensing area determines the operable longitudinal height of the working gap.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein: The second dimension of the lighting area is 20% to 30% smaller at the lowest point of the operable longitudinal height than at the highest point.

4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein: The optical power per unit area of ​​the illumination area is increased by 20% to 30% at the lowest point of the operable longitudinal height compared with the highest point.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: The first lens has a first biconical lens surface as a first surface and a second biconical lens surface as a second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a biconical lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a biconical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: The first lens has a first cylindrical lens surface as a first surface in the first direction and a second cylindrical lens surface as a second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a cylindrical lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a cylindrical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam.

7. A navigation device for operating relative to a work surface, comprising: A light guide, the light guide comprising a first lens and a second lens; a light source for emitting an illumination light beam through the first lens to form an illumination area on the work surface; and a light sensor, the light sensor being disposed on one side of the first direction of the light source and being used for receiving reflected light from the illumination area through the second lens, in, When the distance between the navigation device and the working surface is within the operable working gap, the first size of the illumination area in the first direction is equal to the first reference size when the illumination light beam leaves the first lens, and the second size of the illumination area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than the second reference size when the illumination light beam leaves the first lens.

8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein: The optical sensor has a corresponding sensing area in the illumination area through the second lens, and the sensing area determines the longitudinal height of the operable working gap.

9. The navigation device according to claim 8, wherein: After passing through the first lens, the illumination light beam forms a light waist in the second direction at a predetermined longitudinal distance.

10. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein: The midpoint of the operable working gap is located at the optical waist.

11. The navigation device according to claim 9, wherein: The lowest point of the operable working gap is located at the light waist.

12. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein: The first lens has a first biconical lens surface as a first surface and a second biconical lens surface as a second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a biconical lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a biconical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam.

13. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein: The first lens has a first cylindrical lens surface as a first surface in the first direction and a second cylindrical lens surface as a second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a cylindrical lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a cylindrical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam.

14. An optical machine of a navigation device, the navigation device being used to move relative to a work surface, the optical machine comprising: Circuit boards; Light guide; as well as a light source, which is disposed on the circuit board and is used to emit an illumination light beam through the light guide to form an illumination area on the work surface, Wherein, a first size of the illumination area in a first direction is equal to a first reference size of the illumination light beam when leaving the light guide, and a second size of the illumination area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a second reference size of the illumination light beam in the second direction when leaving the light guide.

15. The optical machine according to claim 14, further comprising an optical sensor disposed on the circuit board, wherein: The first direction is a connection direction between the light source and the light sensor.

16. The optical machine according to claim 15, wherein: The light sensor has a corresponding sensing area in the illumination area through the light guide, and The operable longitudinal working gap of the optical machine is determined according to the interleaving range of the sensing area and the illumination area.

17. The optical machine according to claim 14, wherein: The light guide comprises a first lens for the illumination light beam to pass through, and The illumination light beam gradually converges in the second direction after passing through the first lens.

18. The optical machine according to claim 14, wherein: The light guide comprises a first lens for the illumination light beam to pass through, and After the illumination light beam passes through the first lens, a light waist is formed in the second direction at a predetermined distance.

19. The optical machine according to claim 14, wherein: The first lens has a first biconical lens surface as a first surface and a second biconical lens surface as a second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a biconical lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a biconical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface to form a semi-collimated light beam.

20. The optical machine according to claim 14, wherein: The first lens has a first cylindrical lens surface as a first surface in the first direction and a second cylindrical lens surface as a second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam, The first lens has an axisymmetric lens surface as the first surface and a cylindrical lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated beam, or The first lens has a cylindrical lens surface as the first surface and an axisymmetric lens surface as the second surface in the second direction to form a semi-collimated light beam.

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