JP3682109B2 - Light guide and optical position detection device - Google Patents

Description

これによりベアチップタイプの受発光素子でも、受発光素子間に十分な距離をとれ、実用に耐えることが確認できた。
【００４６】
【発明の効果】
本発明の導光体によれば、集光部、空隙部、反射部などを導光体に一体形成するようにしたので、構造が簡単で、光の伝達ロスを低減できる。また、集光部を設けたので検出光量を増すことができる。また、スリットを設けた場合には、光の光の回り込みや拡散を有効に防止することができる。また、空隙部やテーパを設けた場合には、外乱光の導光体への入射を軽減できる。そして、反射部を設けた場合には、受発光素子と導光体とを上下に重ねることができるので、装置の小形化を図ることができる。
【００４７】
また、上記導光体を使用した本発明の光学的位置検出装置によれば、ワンタッチで組立ができる。また、装置の薄形化、実装コストの低減、及び小形、低電力化が図れる。また、電池駆動が可能となりポータブル用途にも使用できる。さらに受発光部間の距離が取れるので、受発光量の小さなチップタイプの受発光素子を用いた場合でも大型検出装置に適用できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態の光学的位置検出装置の分解図であり、（ａ）は導光体の平面図、（ｂ）は基板の平面図である。
【図２】本実施の形態の導光体の要部の斜視図である。
【図３】本実施の形態の光学的位置検出装置の光路の説明図である。
【図４】他の実施の形態による光学的位置検出装置の導光体の発光面または受光面にテーパを付けたときの外乱光の説明図である。
【図５】他の実施の形態の導光体の要部の斜視図である。
【図６】他の実施の形態の光学的位置検出装置の要部の斜視図である。
【図７】従来例の光学的位置検出装置の平面図である。
【図８】従来例のディスクリートタイプの受発光素子の説明図である。
【図９】従来例のチップタイプの受発光素子の説明図である。
【図１０】従来例の受発光素子を可視光カットフィルタで覆った説明図である。
【符号の説明】
２１ 導光体
２２ スリット
２３ 反射部
２４ 集光部
２５ 空隙部
２６ 曲面
２７ 発光面
２８ 受光面
３０ 光学式タッチパネル面
３１ 基板
３２ 発光素子
３３ 受光素子[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light guide used for an optical touch panel and an optical position detection device. In particular, the use of a chip-type light receiving / emitting element that has a small amount of light emission / reception, but is advantageous in terms of component mounting cost and device thickness. The present invention relates to a device that enables power saving, external noise resistance, and large size.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of light emitting elements 2 and light receiving elements 3 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of pairs are arranged to form a detection panel 1, and each pair of light emitting elements 2 and light receiving elements 3 are sequentially scanned. Then, the position or presence of the object 4 on the optical touch panel surface 5 is detected by detecting whether or not the light emitted from each light emitting element 2 toward the corresponding light receiving element 3 is blocked by the object 4. Position detecting devices are known.
[0003]
The light receiving / emitting elements 2 and 3 arranged on the detection panel 1 are substantially spindle-shaped light receiving / emitting elements 6 having a relatively large size and a large light receiving / emitting amount as shown in FIG. 8 (FIGS. 8A and 8B). In addition, a discrete type having a lead terminal 8 such as a side-view type light emitting / receiving element 7 (FIG. 8C) having a light emitting / receiving portion on a side surface is generally used.
[0004]
However, the discrete type light emitting / receiving elements 6 and 7 formed by sealing the bare chip mounted on the stem with a large amount of light received and emitted can take a large distance between the light emitting and receiving elements. Since it is necessary to solder after inserting into the hole provided in the board, the mounting to the board 9 is troublesome, and the mounting cost of components is increased. Further, since the outer diameter is large, the mounting thickness is increased, which is not suitable for thinning, and the apparatus cannot be miniaturized. In addition, because of the high power consumption, it cannot be used for portable applications.
[0005]
Therefore, in recent years, a chip-type light emitting / receiving element 10 having a small light receiving / emitting amount as shown in FIG. This chip-type light emitting / receiving element 10 has no leads and can be directly surface mounted on the substrate 9, which is advantageous for mounting surface and thinning. Also, since it is small and has low power, the device can be miniaturized. It can also be used for portable applications by battery operation. Further, the mounting surface can be selected without bending the lead as in the discrete type, and the light emitting / receiving surface can be easily turned sideways (FIG. 9A) or faced upward (FIG. 9 ( b)).
[0006]
Normally, an infrared light receiving / emitting element is used, but the visible light wavelength component cannot be ignored. Therefore, in actual use, the visible light cut filter 13 is disposed on the front surface of the light receiving / emitting element 10 as shown in FIG. As a covering structure, it does not react to visible light.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the chip type light receiving and emitting elements are the same chip type, but the bare type (FIG. 9C) having the concave mirror 11 with the bare chip 12 attached to the concave mirror 11 and the bare chip 12 that is not so. There is a light emitting / receiving element shown in FIG. Since the optical output with a concave mirror is large to some extent, it is optimal for a small apparatus. However, the structure is very expensive, and it is particularly necessary to select a device with a large light receiving / emitting amount. On the other hand, those without concave mirrors are smaller, cheaper and very attractive, but the light output is considerably weaker than with concave mirrors, so they are opposed to obtain a detectable level of optical signal. The distance between the light emitting and receiving elements to be made must be reduced. With such a small distance, even a small position detection device cannot secure a necessary touch panel area. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the light receiving / emitting surface is directed upward to reflect light and reach the opposing light receiving / emitting element, a light amount loss occurs. It was difficult to put to practical use.
[0008]
In addition, the chip type, whether with a concave mirror or a bare chip without a concave mirror, is much less light than the discrete type, so it is greatly affected by diffusion and disturbance in the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element. Therefore, it is necessary to select a light emitting element having a large light output and a light receiving element having a large light receiving ability to withstand that, and the selecting operation is very troublesome and the yield is poor. Further, since a visible light cut filter is required separately, the advantage of the chip type is not utilized in terms of thickness. Further, it has not been possible to cope with a large apparatus having a long distance between the light receiving and emitting elements facing each other.
[0009]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and while receiving and emitting light is small, it adopts a small chip type light emitting and receiving element that is advantageous in terms of mounting cost and device thickness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light guide and an optical position detection device that can take a sufficient distance and can withstand practical use.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention is a frame-shaped light guide that is mounted around the surface of an optical touch panel and is transparent to the wavelength of light used, and emits light that guides light from a light emitting element and radiates it to an opposing light receiving unit. A plurality of pairs of light receiving portions that receive the light from the light emitting portion and guide the light to the light receiving element, and prevent light from flowing from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion at least at the boundary between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. A slit is formed, and the light emitting unit collects light emitted to the light receiving unit, and the light receiving unit integrally includes a light collecting unit that collects the light guided to the light receiving element.
As in the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of pairs of a light emitting unit that guides light from a light emitting element and emits it to an opposing light receiving unit and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit and guides it to the light receiving element are integrally formed. As a result, the configuration can be simplified and the manufacture is facilitated as compared with the case where they are formed separately. In addition, when a slit is provided at least at the boundary between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, by restricting the light from the light emitting part from passing through the light guide to the light receiving part on the opposite side, It is possible to effectively prevent the sneak light from being combined with the light receiving element and malfunctioning. In this case, if the slits are also provided between the light emitting units and between the light receiving units, the diffusion of light in the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit can be regulated by the slits, so that the light amount from the light receiving unit to the corresponding light emitting unit Can be effectively prevented.
[0011]
In addition, if the light emitting part condenses the light emitted to the light receiving part and the light receiving part condenses the light guided to the light receiving element, the light condensed by the light collecting part is emitted. Since the light can be efficiently radiated from the light-receiving part to the light-receiving part, the light can be sent to the light-receiving part without reducing the amount of light. It can condense efficiently by the condensing part. Therefore, even if a chip-type light emitting element having a small light output is used, it is not necessary to select a light emitting element having a particularly large light output or a light receiving element having a large light receiving ability. Further, since the detected light quantity can be increased, the distance between the light emitting part and the light receiving part can be extended, and the present invention can be applied to a large size optical position detecting device while using a small chip type light emitting / receiving element.
[0012]
The second invention is a frame-shaped light guide that is mounted around the surface of the optical touch panel and is transparent to the wavelength of light used, and emits light that guides light from the light emitting element and radiates it to the opposing light receiving section. A plurality of pairs of light receiving portions that receive the light from the light emitting portion and guide the light to the light receiving element, and prevent light from flowing from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion at least at the boundary between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. A slit is formed, and a gap portion for interposing layers having different refractive indexes to refract the disturbance light that has entered the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion and to escape outside the light emitting portion or the light receiving portion is formed in the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. The inner surface of the gap is curved, the light emitted to the light receiving part is collected on one side of the light emitting part side gap, and the light guided to the light receiving element is collected on one side of the light receiving part side gap. Each of the light collecting parts is provided integrally.
[0013]
As in the second invention, a gap for interposing layers having different refractive indexes in the light emitting part and the light receiving part to refract the disturbance light that has entered the light emitting part or the light receiving part and to escape the light emitting part or the light receiving part to the outside. If the gap is formed, the gap part suppresses the incoming of disturbance light such as sunlight, so that the disturbance light may affect the light emitting element as the light source or be received by the light receiving element. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to cause malfunction due to disturbance light. Also, the inner surface of the gap is curved with a lens effect, the light emitted to the light receiving part is condensed on one side of the light emitting part side gap, and the light is guided to the light receiving element on one side of the light receiving part side gap. In the case where the condensing portions for condensing each are integrally provided, the condensing portion can be formed simultaneously with the formation of the gap portion, so that the configuration and manufacture can be simplified.
[0014]
According to a third invention, in the second invention, the disturbance light is reflected on the inner surface of the light guide constituting the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit or the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit, and the disturbance light is reflected on the light emitting unit or the light receiving unit. A taper is formed to prevent entry.
[0015]
As in the third aspect of the invention, a taper is formed on the inner surface of the light-emitting part or light-receiving part of the light guide so as to reflect disturbance light and prevent the disturbance light from entering the light-emitting part or light-receiving part. In this case, malfunction due to ambient light is less likely to occur.
[0016]
In addition, this taper spreads the light emitted from the light emitting part, reflects it to the inner surface of the light guide constituting the light receiving / emitting surface, and eliminates the optical path entering the light receiving part.
[0017]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the light guide body of the first to third aspects, the light receiving body further reflects the light incident on the light emitting section from the light emitting element provided on the lower surface of the light emitting section and faces the light receiving section. And a reflecting portion that reflects light incident on the light receiving portion and that faces the light receiving element provided on the lower surface of the light receiving portion.
[0018]
As in the fourth aspect of the invention, the light incident on the light emitting unit from the light emitting element provided on the lower surface of the light emitting unit is reflected and radiated to the opposite light receiving unit, or the light incident on the light receiving unit is reflected and reflected on the light receiving unit. In the case where the reflecting portions that lead to the light receiving element provided on the lower surface are integrally provided, the light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the light guide can be overlapped, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element do not protrude from the light guide. Therefore, the apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with the case where the light emitting element and the light receiving element are protruded from the light guide and light is incident from the side surface of the light guide. Moreover, since the reflection part is formed integrally with the light guide, the configuration can be simplified.
[0019]
According to a fifth invention, in the first to fourth inventions, a resin transparent to infrared light such as an acrylic resin, an ABS resin, or a polycarbonate is used as a material. By using a resin as defined in the fifth invention, the light guide can be integrally formed at a low cost and the transmission loss of infrared light can be reduced.
[0020]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements are arranged around the surface of the optical touch panel so as to face each other, and light from the light emitting elements to the light receiving elements is shielded to thereby detect the position or presence of the object. In the optical position detecting device for detecting the light, a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements which are attached in a frame shape around the surface of the optical touch panel and are arranged around the surface of the optical touch panel are configured in a chip type. And a light guide body according to any one of the first to fourth inventions mounted on the substrate.
[0021]
As in the sixth invention, when the light emitting element and the light receiving element are configured in a chip type and these are mounted on the substrate in a planar shape, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are configured in a discrete type, Compared with the case where the leads are soldered and mounted three-dimensionally, the mounting is easy and the cost can be reduced, and the mounting thickness can be reduced and the device can be miniaturized because it is planar. In addition, since light is guided to a light guide having a condensing part, even if a chip-type light emitting / receiving element with low light output and small condensing power is used, transmission loss can be reduced and detected light quantity can be increased. Thus, the distance between the light emitting and receiving elements can be increased.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the optical position detection device of the present embodiment, where (a) is a plan view of a light guide and (b) is a plan view of a substrate. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the light guide.
[0023]
The optical position detection apparatus mainly includes a substrate 31 attached in a frame shape around the optical touch panel surface 30, and a light guide 21 that guides light mounted on the substrate 31.
[0024]
A plurality of light emitting elements 32 and light receiving elements 33 to be arranged around the surface of the optical touch panel are mounted on a substrate 31 having a rectangular frame shape. In the illustrated example, the light emitting elements 32 are mounted on the upper side and the left side, and the light receiving elements 33 are mounted on the lower side and the right side facing these. The light receiving / emitting elements 32 and 33 are configured as a bare chip type without a concave mirror, and these are mounted on the substrate 31 in a planar shape with the light receiving / emitting surface facing up. Since a chip type is used for the light emitting / receiving elements 32 and 33 and is mounted on the substrate 31 in a planar shape, mounting is easy and the cost can be reduced, and the mounting thickness can be reduced because it is planar. The light emitting / receiving elements 32 and 33 are in the infrared region.
[0025]
In order to be mounted around the optical touch panel surface 30, the light guide 21 is formed in a rectangular frame shape like the substrate 31, and is transparent to infrared light, such as acrylic resin, ABS resin, polycarbonate, etc. Formed with.
[0026]
A plurality of slits 22 are repeatedly provided on the outer periphery of the light guide 21, and a plurality of light emitting units 15 that guide light from the light emitting elements 32 and radiate the light to the opposing light receiving units 16, and light emission between the slits 22. A plurality of light receiving portions 16 that are configured to receive light from the portion 15 and guide the light to the light receiving element 33 are formed. The slit 22 prevents light from wrapping around from the light emitting unit 15 to the light receiving unit 16 and prevents light from diffusing in each light emitting unit 15 and each light receiving unit 16. Since the slit 22 is deep on the light emitting unit 15 side and shallow on the light receiving unit 16 side, the shape of the light guide 21 is not symmetrical.
[0027]
If the slit 22 has only the function of preventing light from wrapping around, the slit 22 should be formed at least at the boundary between the light emitting portion 15 and the light receiving portion 16, that is, at two locations A and B shown in FIG. It ’s enough. This is because each pair of the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 is sequentially scanned, so that it is not necessary to consider the wraparound of light between the light emitting parts and between the light receiving parts.
[0028]
The light-emitting unit 15 reflects light incident on the light-emitting unit 15 from the light-emitting element 32 disposed on the lower surface of the light-emitting unit 15 at an angle of 90 °, changes the direction to parallel to the touch panel surface 30, and opposes the light-receiving unit 16 facing the light-emitting unit 15. A reflecting portion 23 that radiates to is integrally provided. The light receiving unit 16 is also integrally provided with a reflecting unit 23 that reflects light incident on the light receiving unit 16 at an angle of 90 ° and faces the light receiving element 33 disposed on the lower surface of the light receiving unit 16. These reflecting portions 23 can be formed by obliquely cutting the end surfaces of the light emitting portion 15 and the light receiving portion 16 that protrude outward. If necessary, a reflective film may be applied to the cut surface.
[0029]
Further, in the middle of the light path of the light emitting unit 15 and the light receiving unit 16 of the light guide 21, the disturbance light that has entered the light emitting unit 15 or the light receiving unit 16 is refracted and refracted to escape from the light emitting unit 15 or the light receiving unit 16. A gap 25 for interposing layers with different rates is formed. The gap 25 is formed discontinuously in order to connect the inner frame 36 formed inside the gap 25 to the light guide 21. An air layer or other layer having a refractive index smaller than that of the material constituting the light guide 21 may be interposed in the gap 25.
[0030]
Of the wall surfaces constituting the gap 25, the outer surface is a curved surface 26 to provide a lens effect, and the light emitted to the opposite light receiving part 16 is condensed on one side of the light emitting part side gap 25 to receive the light. A condensing part 24 for condensing light guided to the light receiving element 33 is integrally provided on one side of the part side gap part 25. Since the light condensing unit 24 is provided in the light guide 21 to prevent scattering and condense, and the amount of detected light is increased, the distance between the light receiving and emitting elements facing each other even in a bare type weak light element having no concave mirror is set. It can be extended within the practical range. In addition, it is not necessary to select a light emitting / receiving element having a large amount of light receiving / emitting light. In particular, if the light receiving / emitting element with a concave mirror is used, the distance can be further extended, so that it can be applied not only to a small detection device but also to a large detection device.
[0031]
The curved surface 26 of the gap 25 has a mirror finish similar to the flat surface 29 facing it. Further, the curvature of each curved surface 26 is set so that the focal point of the light collecting unit 24 on the light emitting unit side is formed on the light receiving surface 28 of the light receiving unit 16 and the focal point of the light collecting unit 24 on the light receiving unit side is formed on the light receiving element 33. decide. In the illustrated example, the inner side surface of the light guide 21 constituting the light emitting surface 27 of the light emitting unit 15 or the light receiving surface 28 of the light receiving unit 16 is cut so as to be perpendicular to the optical path.
[0032]
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the main configuration of the optical position detection apparatus described above. As shown in the figure, the light guide 21 has an appropriate means such as adhesion on the substrate 31 such that the light emitting / receiving elements 32, 33 are arranged on the lower surface of the light emitting / receiving portions 15, 16 on the reflecting portion 23 side. It is attached by. Further, by forming the gap portion 25 in the light guide 21, an inner frame 36 that is continuous inside the gap portion 25 is formed. This inner frame 36 is used to reinforce the light guide 21 and to provide a touch panel surface. Be blindfolded around. The light guide 21 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like.
[0033]
Now, in the optical position detection apparatus of the present embodiment in which the light guide 21 is mounted on the substrate 31 as described above, upward light emitted from the light emitting element 32 mounted on the substrate 31 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. As shown, the light enters the light guide 21 from the lower surface of the light emitting portion 15 of the light guide 21. The light incident on the light guide 21 is reflected by the reflecting portion 23 and changed in direction by 90 °, and is guided to the light collecting portion 24 and condensed. The condensing part 24 and the slit 22 combine to prevent light scattering. Therefore, a sufficiently large amount of light can be extracted even with weak light. The light collected by the light collecting unit 24 passes through the gap 25 and is emitted from the light emitting surface 27 of the light emitting unit 15 once through the light guide 21 toward the light receiving unit 16. The light incident on the light guide 21 again from the light receiving surface 28 of the light receiving unit 16 passes through the gap 25 and reaches the reflecting unit 23, where it is reflected and changed in direction by 90 °, and the lower surface of the light receiving unit 16. And is detected by the light receiving element 33 disposed on the lower surface of the light receiving unit 16.
[0034]
Here, when the disturbance light 20 enters the light receiving unit 16 from the light receiving surface 28 of the light receiving unit 16 at an angle shown in the figure, the light is bent by the gap 25 and reaches the light receiving element 33. Before, it comes out of the light receiving part 15. For this reason, unlike the case where there is no gap 25, the disturbance light 20 incident on the light guide 21 is less likely to reach the light receiving element 33 by repeatedly reflecting on the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide 21, As a result, malfunction due to disturbance light can be reduced. Note that this effect can also be applied to the light emitting unit 15, and the disturbance light 20 incident on the light emitting unit 15 is less likely to affect the light emitting element 32 that is a light source.
[0035]
Further, since the upper portions of the light receiving and emitting elements 32 and 33 are covered with the light emitting portion 15 and the light receiving portion 16 of the light guide 21, disturbance light coming from above is shielded by the light emitting portion 15 and the light receiving portion 16 and directly received and emitted. Since disturbance light does not enter the elements 32 and 33, malfunctions due to disturbance light can be reduced from this point.
[0036]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the light receiving and emitting elements are covered with the light guide and the light is guided by the light guide, the conventional visible light cut filter is not required. In addition, a reflective part that changes the direction of the light in the horizontal direction to a vertical direction, a slit for forming an optical path that prevents light diffusion, a condensing part that collects light, a gap part that reduces the intrusion of disturbance light, etc. By using an integrally formed light guide, light transmission loss is eliminated, and the amount of detected light is increased by condensing, and the intrusion of disturbance light can be reduced. A small bare chip type with low output can be adopted, and compared with the conventional example in which a light guide is not used, the mounting cost can be reduced, the thickness can be reduced, and a small and inexpensive device can be made. In addition, the battery can be driven because of its low power, and it can be used for portable applications. In particular, if a chip-type light emitting / receiving element having a concave mirror is used, a larger light receiving / emitting amount can be obtained and a distance between light receiving and light emitting can be obtained. Can also be applied.
[0037]
In the embodiment described above, both inner side surfaces of the light guide 21 constituting the light emitting surface 27 of the light emitting unit 15 or the light receiving surface 28 of the light receiving unit 16 are cut so as to be perpendicular to the optical path. As shown, the taper 34 may be formed on the inner side by cutting diagonally so that the opposing inner side has a cross-sectional shape. When the taper 34 is formed in this way, the amount of disturbance light entering the light guide 21 from above can be more effectively reduced.
[0038]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the opposite inner side surface is cut so that the cross-section is reversed and the taper 34 is formed on the inner side surface, the light emitted from the light emitting portion spreads, and the taper is perpendicular to the light emitting portion. It is possible to reduce the amount of light that is reflected by the light and enters the light receiving portion.
[0039]
Further, in the embodiment described above, the gap portion 25 is provided in the light emitting / receiving portions 15 and 16, but as shown in FIG. 5, the disturbance light prevention function is reduced, but the gap portion 25 is omitted, and the inner frame The inner frame may be used as the light collecting unit 24 by forming a curved surface having a lens effect on the inner surface of the lens.
[0040]
In the above-described embodiment, the reflection unit 23 is provided on the end surfaces of the light emitting / receiving units 15 and 16 so that light is incident from the lower surface of the light guide 21 and is emitted to the lower surface of the light guide 21. As shown in FIG. 6, the end surfaces of the light emitting / receiving portions 15 and 16 may be cut vertically so that no reflecting portion is provided. In that case, it is necessary to arrange the light emitting / receiving elements 32 and 33 not at the lower surface of the light guide 21 but at a position facing the end surface. According to this, since the light guide 21 and the light receiving and emitting elements 32 and 33 are on the same surface, the outer diameter of the apparatus is larger than that in which the light receiving and emitting elements 32 and 33 are arranged on the lower surface of the light guide 21. However, the thickness can be reduced.
[0041]
In addition, as shown in the figure, in order to protect the touch panel surface 30, a contact panel 35 covering the touch panel surface 30 is downset one step lower than the light emitting / receiving portions 15 and 16 and is integrally formed with the light guide 21. You may make it do.
[0042]
Although the light guide according to the present embodiment is asymmetrical, it may be formed symmetrically for ease of use.
[0043]
The present invention is most suitable for an optical position detection device of a traffic navigation system, for example.
[0044]
【Example】
An optical position detector having the following specifications was produced.
[0045]

As a result, it was confirmed that even a bare chip type light emitting / receiving element could withstand a practical use with a sufficient distance between the light emitting / receiving elements.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
According to the light guide of the present invention, the condensing part, the gap, the reflection part and the like are integrally formed on the light guide, so that the structure is simple and the light transmission loss can be reduced. Moreover, since the condensing part is provided, the amount of detected light can be increased. Further, when the slit is provided, it is possible to effectively prevent the light from wrapping around and diffusing. Moreover, when a space | gap part and a taper are provided, incidence to the light guide of disturbance light can be reduced. And when a reflection part is provided, since a light emitting / receiving element and a light guide can be piled up and down, size reduction of an apparatus can be achieved.
[0047]
Moreover, according to the optical position detection apparatus of the present invention using the light guide, assembly can be performed with one touch. Further, the apparatus can be thinned, the mounting cost can be reduced, and the size and power can be reduced. In addition, the battery can be driven and can be used for portable purposes. Furthermore, since the distance between the light emitting and receiving parts can be increased, even when a chip type light emitting and receiving element with a small amount of light received and emitted is used, the present invention can be applied to a large detection device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an optical position detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view of a light guide and (b) is a plan view of a substrate.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the light guide according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an optical path of the optical position detection device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of disturbance light when a light emitting surface or a light receiving surface of a light guide of an optical position detection device according to another embodiment is tapered.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of a light guide according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of an optical position detection device according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional optical position detection device.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional discrete type light emitting / receiving element.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a conventional chip type light emitting / receiving element.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram in which a conventional light receiving and emitting element is covered with a visible light cut filter.
[Explanation of symbols]
21 Light Guide 22 Slit 23 Reflector 24 Condenser 25 Gap 26 Curve 27 Light Emitting Surface 28 Light Receiving Surface 30 Optical Touch Panel 31 Substrate 32 Light Emitting Element 33 Light Receiving Element

Claims (5)

A light guide that is mounted around the surface of the optical touch panel and is transparent to the wavelength of the light used, and that emits light from the light emitting element and emits it to the opposing light receiving unit, and the light emitting unit A plurality of pairs of light receiving portions that receive light from the light and guide the light to the light receiving element are integrally formed, and at least a slit that prevents the light from flowing from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion at the boundary between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion A gap is formed in the light emitting part and the light receiving part for interposing layers having different refractive indexes in order to refract the disturbance light that has entered the light emitting part or the light receiving part and to escape the light emitting part or the light receiving part. The condensing part which condenses the light radiated to the light receiving part on one side of the light emitting part side gap part and condenses the light guided to the light receiving element on one side of the light receiving part side gap part. A light guide characterized by being provided integrally with each other. 2. The light guide according to claim 1 , wherein disturbance light is reflected on an inner surface of the light guide constituting the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit or the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit, and the disturbance light enters the light emitting unit or the light receiving unit. A light guide having a taper for preventing the above. The light guide according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the light guide further reflects a light incident on the light emitting part from a light emitting element provided on a lower surface of the light emitting part, and directs the light toward the opposing light receiving part, And a light guide body integrally provided with a reflecting portion that reflects light incident on the light receiving portion and faces the light receiving element provided on the lower surface of the light receiving portion. 4. The light guide according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide is made of a resin that is transparent to infrared light. An optical position for detecting the position or presence of an object by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements around the surface of the optical touch panel so as to face each other and blocking light from the light emitting elements to the light receiving elements. In the detection device, the plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements which are attached in a frame shape around the surface of the optical touch panel and are arranged around the surface of the optical touch panel are configured in a chip type, and these are planar. An optical position detecting device comprising: a substrate mounted on the substrate; and the light guide according to claim 1 mounted on the substrate.

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