Optical Sensor Mounting With Coil Spring Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electronic information board systems face issues with accurate coordinate detection due to changes in the mounting position and angle of optical sensors during transportation and strong contact with pen-shaped input devices, leading to potential displacement and failure in detecting input operations.

Innovation Solution

A coordinate detecting device with a sensor position adjustment mechanism that fine-tunes the light emitting and receiving surface of optical sensor units, incorporating a coil spring for impact absorption, ensuring accurate reflection light reception and maintaining sensor position stability despite external forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If optical sensor units are fixed rigidly to the frame, then mounting position stability is improved, but impact from pen contact causes displacement and detection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting position stabilityVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a coil spring between the optical sensor unit and the frame. This spring absorbs impact forces from pen-shaped input devices before they can displace the sensor unit, preventing detection failures while maintaining stable mounting position during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the mounting structure from rigid fixed connection to elastic connection via coil spring. This allows the system to maintain position stability under normal conditions while accommodating impact forces through elastic deformation, resolving the contradiction between stability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If optical sensor units are mounted firmly to prevent displacement, then position stability is improved, but strong contact forces cause mounting position changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinate detection precisionVSAvoidimpact from pen contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful impact force from pen contact into a beneficial elastic deformation of the coil spring. The spring absorbs the impact energy that would otherwise cause sensor displacement, transforming a harmful factor into a protective mechanism that preserves measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The coil spring provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-installed in the mounting structure to absorb impact forces before they reach the optical sensor unit. This prevents the harmful effects of strong contact while maintaining the firm mounting needed for precise coordinate detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If rigid mounting structure is used, then assembly simplicity is improved, but sensor displacement occurs under impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidsensor mounting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mounting structure from rigid to elastic by incorporating a coil spring. This maintains assembly simplicity while improving manufacturing precision, as the spring ensures consistent sensor positioning despite variations in assembly force or frame deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution enables precise coordinate detection even under varying conditions, preventing displacement of optical sensor units and ensuring accurate input operation detection, thus enhancing the reliability of electronic information board systems.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating a coil spring for impact absorption, ensuring accurate reflection light reception and maintaining sensor position stability despite external forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

when the pen-shaped input device is in contact with the display surface, the light passing through the contact position is blocked so that the light cannot be received by the optical sensor units. Based on the angle of the light at that moment, the coordinate position is calculated (determined) using the triangulation method.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

each light (infrared light) emitted from the optical sensor units can be radiated onto two optical reflecting members facing each other at a predetermined angle of the optical reflecting members provided on the three sides, and the reflected light from the optical reflecting members can be received by the optical sensor units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2824548B1Coordinate detecting device and electronic information board system
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2824548B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2824548B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2824548B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A coordinate detecting device, which is used in a system including a display section including a display surface, two optical sensor units disposed at one side of the display section and including light emitting and receiving surfaces, and optical reflection members disposed at other three sides of the display section, includes adjustment units adjusting the respective light emitting and receiving surfaces of the optical sensor units where the reflection light is irradiated and received, and impact absorption units absorbing impact applied to the respective optical sensor units.