Optical Sensor System Without Focusing Lens for Gesture Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical proximity sensor systems face challenges in accuracy and power consumption due to the need for focusing lenses, which reduce viewing angles and increase package thickness, making them unsuitable for mobile devices and requiring continuous high-speed sampling.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor system with a panel and sensing unit that includes a light sensor and gesture sensors, using infrared light emitting diodes and a processing unit to determine object direction through differential voltage calculations, reducing the need for focusing lenses and optimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a focusing lens is used in the quadrant photodiode system, then the light detection capability is improved, but the viewing angle is dramatically reduced and the package thickness increases over 2 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the focusing lens from the optical sensor system, extracting the problematic component that caused both reduced viewing angle and increased package thickness. The system achieves acceptable light detection capability through direct illumination of the quadrant photodiode cells without requiring a focusing lens, thereby reducing package thickness to under 2 mm while maintaining sufficient detection performance for mobile device applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display surface and the light transmission medium for the optical sensor. The transparent areas of the panel directly transmit ambient light and emitted light signals to the sensing unit without requiring additional optical components, eliminating the need for a separate focusing lens and reducing overall package thickness.
2Measurement precision
If a focusing lens is used in the quadrant photodiode system, then the light detection capability is improved, but the viewing angle is dramatically reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The focusing lens is removed from the system, eliminating the component that restricted the viewing angle. The quadrant photodiode cells directly receive light from a wider field of view through the transparent panel areas, enabling the sensor to detect objects across a broader angular range while maintaining sufficient detection precision for gesture recognition applications.
3Measurement precision
If continuous sampling at very high speed is performed in the quadrant photodiode system, then the position or motion sensing accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling at optimized intervals rather than continuous high-speed sampling. The control unit determines when sampling is necessary based on detected changes in light patterns, allowing the sensor to maintain position and motion detection accuracy while significantly reducing average power consumption by keeping the sensor in low-power states between sampling events.
4Measurement precision
If the quadrant photodiode cells are located adjacent to each other with integrated focusing lens, then the light detection function is achieved, but the overall package thickness increases over 2 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated focusing lens is removed from the sensor package, eliminating the component that pushed the package thickness beyond 2 mm. The quadrant photodiode cells are positioned directly behind the transparent areas of the panel, allowing them to receive sufficient light for detection functions without requiring the additional optical path length provided by a focusing lens, thereby achieving a thinner overall package.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances accuracy in detecting object position and motion while minimizing power consumption, making it suitable for mobile device applications.
Implementation Method 1
The PD transfers the light signal to the electrical signal. By detecting the intensity of the electrical signal, the OPS apparatus can obtain the direction of movement of the measured object.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical sensor system is disclosed. The optical sensor system comprises a panel and a sensing unit. The panel comprises a plurality of transparent areas. The sensing unit locates at one side of the panel and the sensing unit senses a plurality of first light signals reflected by an object and senses a plurality second light signals of an ambient light. The reflected first light signals and the second light signals pass through one of the plurality of transparent areas of the panel. The sensing unit further comprises a light sensor and a plurality of gesture sensors. The light sensor locates at the center of the sensing unit, and the light sensor senses the second light signals. The plurality of gesture sensors surrounds the light sensor, and the gesture sensors senses the reflected first light signals and then produce gesture signals corresponding to motions of the object.