KR101328343B1 - Optical pointing module and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cover part through which light emitted from a light source is transmitted; A holder part having a light receiving hole through which the light reflected by an external magnetic pole passes; A light receiving unit receiving the light reflected by an external stimulus; And a light blocking part formed by coating an ink on a bottom surface of the cover part so that light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover part is blocked from entering the light receiving part.

Description

Optical pointing module and an electronic device comprising the same

The present invention relates to an optical pointing module and an electronic device including the same, and more particularly, to an optical pointing module miniaturized to be adopted in an electronic device such as a personal portable terminal and an electronic device including the same.

In general, an electronic device such as a personal mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone adopts a user interface using a keypad, and includes a keypad composed of a plurality of buttons and direction buttons for inputting numbers and characters.

In addition, as wireless Internet services such as a wireless broadband (WIBRO) service are commercialized in recent years, a graphical user interface (GUI), which is an environment in which a user can work through a graphic when a user exchanges information with a computer, also in a personal portable terminal. The operating system of is adopted.

That is, since an operating system of a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of selecting and operating a menu on the screen using a mouse or the like is used as a user interface of an electronic device such as a personal portable terminal, an electronic device such as a personal portable terminal is used. There is an urgent need for the development of suitable input devices.

In such a situation, an electronic device such as a personal portable terminal employs an optical pointing module for controlling a cursor generated on a display screen to select a desired icon and menu.

When the optical pointing module moves by touching a finger, which is a subject, the optical signal input to the sensor may change according to the movement of the finger, thereby changing the cursor on the display screen.

However, the conventional optical pointing module must operate only when the finger, which is the subject, is in contact with the optical pointing module for accurate movement of the cursor on the display. have.

Therefore, in order to control the movement of the correct cursor on the display, it is urgently needed to make sure that the user responds only when a finger or the like is touched, thereby minimizing accurate control, that is, malfunction.

In Patent Documents 1 and 2 described in the following prior art document, there is still a problem that a malfunction occurs due to a response of a cursor on the display even when a finger or the like, which is a subject, is not in contact with the optical pointing module.

Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-0090530 Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-0090531

One of the objects according to an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an optical pointing module and an electronic device including the same, which prevent the movement of the cursor to minimize the malfunction when the finger, which is the subject, is not in contact.

The optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cover part through which light emitted from a light source is transmitted; A holder part having a light receiving hole through which the light reflected by an external magnetic pole passes; A light receiving unit receiving the light reflected by an external stimulus; And a light blocking part formed by coating an ink on a bottom surface of the cover part so that light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover part is blocked from entering the light receiving part.

The light blocking unit of the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention may change a path of the light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit.

The path of the light reflected by the external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover portion of the optical pointing module according to the embodiment of the present invention may be changed by the boundary of the light blocking portion.

The light blocking part of the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed in an area other than a predetermined area of the cover part through which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted.

delete

The cover part of the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed of transparent glass.

The light receiving unit of the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an image sensor for receiving the light reflected by an external stimulus.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device includes: an optical pointing module; A case accommodating the optical pointing module and exposing the cover to the outside; And a display configured to display an image according to signal processing of the optical pointing module.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical pointing module and an electronic device including the same may minimize a malfunction by reacting only when a finger or the like, which is a subject, is touched.

In addition, since the external light can be shielded to block external disturbance factors, an accurate position can be realized on the display.

1 is a schematic external perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic bottom perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, showing a schematic view showing a light fossil module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a path of light acting on the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the function of the light blocking unit provided in the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device including the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail a specific embodiment of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept. Other embodiments falling within the scope of the inventive concept may readily be suggested, but are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

The same reference numerals are used to designate the same components in the same reference numerals in the drawings of the embodiments.

1 is a schematic external perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic bottom perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of Figure 1, the optical module according to an embodiment of the present invention It is a schematic cross section shown.

1 to 4, the light pointing module 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cover unit 110 through which light is transmitted and includes a light blocking unit 140, and a light receiving unit receiving light. 120 and a holder 130.

The cover 110 may provide an appearance of the optical pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and may be a component through which light emitted from the light source 150 is transmitted.

Here, the cover part 110 may provide a predetermined internal space together with the side wall part 115, and one side of the side wall part 115 may be sealed by the cover part 110.

The light receiving part 120 and the holder part 130 may be disposed in a predetermined internal space formed by the cover part 110 and the side wall part 115, and are generally rectangular as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. It may be a phase.

However, the shape of the side wall portion 115 and the cover portion 110 may be variously modified in consideration of the appearance design of the optical pointing module 100.

Meanwhile, the cover 110 may be formed of transparent glass so that light emitted from the light source 150 may be transmitted, and an external stimulus such as a finger, which is a subject, may be input.

Here, the light blocking unit 140 may be provided on one surface of the cover unit 110, and the light blocking unit 140 may change a path of light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit 110. I can do it.

The light blocking unit 140 will be described in detail after all components of the light pointing module 100 are described.

The holder part 130 may be accommodated in an inner space formed by the cover part 110 and the side wall part 115, and light or a subject emitted from the light source 150 may be disposed on an upper surface adjacent to the cover part 110. Passing grooves 134 through which light reflected by an external stimulus by an in-finger may pass may be formed.

At this time, the through groove 134 is protruded by the partition wall, but is not necessarily limited to this structure.

Here, the partition wall defining the through groove 134 has a function of shielding the external light in the light emitted from the light source 150 is reflected by the external stimulus and received by the image sensor 126 of the integrated circuit 122. can do.

Meanwhile, the lighting unit 170 may be coupled to an outer surface of the partition wall defining the through groove 134, and the lighting unit 170 may provide light to the outside of the cover unit 110.

Here, the lighting unit 170 is the cover unit 110 by the light emitted by at least one light emitting diode (LED, not shown) provided in the optical pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Light may be provided on the outside of the cover), and any means may be applicable as long as the means may provide the light to the outside of the cover unit 110.

In addition, the lighting unit 170 may function to shield external light like the partition wall defining the through groove 134.

In this case, the inflow of external light may be an obstacle in calculating a position through the integrated circuit 122 and may not represent an accurate position on the display 200 (see FIG. 7).

Therefore, the outer surface of the lighting unit 170 adjacent to the bottom surface of the cover unit 110 and the partition wall defining the through groove 134 may shield the external light to implement a more accurate position movement.

The holder 130 may include a passage hole 132, a light receiving hole 136, and a receiving groove 138 in addition to the passage groove 134.

The through hole 132 may be formed at a lower side of the through groove 134 and may communicate with the through groove 134.

The through hole 132 may be a path through which light emitted from the light source 150 is incident to the cover part 110, and the light passing through the through hole 132 passes through a predetermined region of the cover part 110. Permeate.

Here, the through hole 132 is preferably a circular shape, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

Like the through hole 132, the light receiving hole 136 may be formed at the lower side of the through groove 134, and the light passing through the cover 110 is reflected by an external stimulus such as a finger, which is an object, to be received. It may be a passage for receiving light at 120.

The accommodating groove 138 may provide a space in which the integrated circuit 122 is accommodated. The accommodating groove 138 may have a size of the electronic device 400 including the optical pointing module 100 and the type of the accessory device. It can be variously modified according to.

The light receiver 120 may include an integrated circuit 122 and a circuit board 124 including an image sensor 126 that receives light reflected from an external stimulus.

The image sensor 126 may receive light passing through the light receiving hole 136 of the holder unit 130, calculate the position value on the display 200, and display the correct position on the display 200.

On the other hand, the circuit board 124 may function to transfer the electrical signal of the integrated circuit 122 to the display 200 in order to display the exact position on the display 200.

On the circuit board 124, a light source 150, a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), and the like, which are sources of light, may be positioned.

The light source 150 may be a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).

The vertical resonance surface emitting laser is one of laser diodes that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal.

The vertical resonance surface emitting laser is a new light source to replace the existing side light emitting semiconductor (FP, DFB) laser, and it is possible to manufacture a precision photoelectric sensor by replacing a photoelectric sensor such as a light emitting diode (LED) sensor module. .

However, the light source 150 is not limited to the above-mentioned vertical resonance surface emitting laser, but may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD).

The multilayer ceramic capacitor 160 is a type of capacitor, a chip type capacitor in which a dielectric layer and an electrode area are multi-layered into small thin films according to the use of capacitance and rated voltage. Do it.

On the other hand, the dome switch 180 is not an essential component in the optical pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, but the circuit board 124 to implement the position on the accurate display 200 by an external stimulus It may be provided at the bottom of the).

The light blocking unit 140 is a component for blocking the light reflected by the external magnetic poles that are not in contact with the cover unit 110 to the light receiving unit 120, and may be provided on the bottom surface of the cover unit 110. .

That is, the light blocking unit 140 may prevent the light from entering the light receiving unit 120 by changing a path of light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit 110.

In other words, the light blocking unit 140 changes the path of the light reflected by the external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit 110 by the inner boundary of the light blocking unit 140, that is, refracts the light. It may be introduced to the outside of the image sensor 126 of the light receiving unit 120.

Here, the general optical pointing module refers to a module in which a cursor on the display is operated when a finger, which is a subject, moves in contact with the optical pointing module in response to an external stimulus.

In this case, when a finger or the like, which is a subject, moves away from the optical pointing module, a hovering phenomenon in which the cursor operates on the display may occur, which may mean a malfunction.

Therefore, in order to prevent a hovering phenomenon, which means a malfunction in the optical pointing module, it is necessary to prevent the light reflected by the external stimulus which is not in contact with the optical pointing module from flowing into the image sensor. The light blocking unit 140 implements this.

That is, as mentioned above, the light blocking unit 140 blocks the inflow of the light into the light receiving unit 120 by changing the path of the light reflected by the external magnetic poles which are not in contact with the cover unit 110. Hovering) can be prevented, a detailed description thereof will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Meanwhile, the light blocking unit 140 may be formed by coating black ink on the bottom surface of the cover unit 110 and an area other than a predetermined region of the cover unit 110 through which light emitted from the light source 150 is transmitted. Can be formed on.

Here, the light blocking unit 140 may be a shielding tape that blocks light in addition to the coating of black ink, and any light blocking unit may be applicable.

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a path of light acting on the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a function of the light blocking unit provided in the optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic section for.

Referring to FIG. 5, the light pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cover part after the light G1 emitted from the light source 150 passes through the passage hole 132 and the passage groove 134. It may be reflected by the finger F1 which is the subject in contact with 110.

The light G2 reflected by the finger F1 passes through the passing groove 134 and the light receiving hole 136 again, and is then received by the image sensor 126 of the light receiving unit 120.

Accordingly, the cursor on the display 200 responds to the external magnetic pole in contact with the cover 110, and the cursor moves correspondingly by the movement of the external magnetic pole in contact with the cover 110.

Referring to FIG. 6, the optical pointing module 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention reflects the light G1 emitted from the light source 150 by the finger F2, which is a non-contact subject to the cover 110. Can be.

In this case, when the light blocking unit 140 is not present, the light G3 reflected by the finger F2, which is a non-contact subject to the cover unit 110, passes through the passing groove 134 and the light receiving hole 136 and remains as it is. The light is received by the image sensor 126.

Therefore, when the light blocking unit 140 is not present, the cursor on the display 200 reacts due to an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit 110. As a result, a hovering phenomenon may occur.

However, as shown in FIG. 6, the light G4 reflected by the finger F2, which is a non-contact subject to the cover unit 110, is refracted by the inner boundary of the light blocking unit 140 to prevent the light receiving unit 120. It is introduced to the outside of the image sensor 126.

Therefore, the optical pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention does not react at all by an external stimulus that is not in contact with the cover 110, thereby preventing the hovering phenomenon.

7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an electronic device including an optical pointing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the electronic device 400 including the optical pointing module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the optical pointing module 100 and the optical pointing module 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. It may include a case 300 and a display 200 to accommodate the 100.

Here, the case 300 may configure an appearance of the electronic device 400, and may expose the cover 110 of the optical pointing module 100 to the outside.

Meanwhile, the display 200 may display an image according to the signal processing of the optical pointing module 100, that is, the cursor C may cause the movement to be visually identified.

Accordingly, the electronic device 400 accurately corrects the positions P1 and P2 of the cursor C displayed on the display 200 according to the movement of an external magnetic pole contacting the cover 110 of the optical pointing module 100. You can move it.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such modifications or variations are within the scope of the appended claims.

100: optical pointing module 110: cover
120: light receiving unit 130: holder
140: light blocking unit 150: light source
200: display 300: case
400: electronic device

Claims (8)

A cover part through which light emitted from the light source is transmitted;
A holder part having a light receiving hole through which the light reflected by an external magnetic pole passes;
A light receiving unit receiving the light reflected by an external stimulus; And
And a light blocking part formed by coating an ink on a bottom surface of the cover part so that light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover part is blocked from entering the light receiving part.
The method of claim 1,
And the light blocking unit changes a path of the light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover unit.
3. The method of claim 2,
And a path of the light reflected by an external magnetic pole that is not in contact with the cover part is changed by a boundary of the light blocking part.
The method of claim 1,
And the light blocking part is formed in an area other than a predetermined area of the cover part through which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted.
delete The method of claim 1,
The cover portion optical pointing module is formed of a transparent glass.
The method of claim 1,
And the light receiver comprises an image sensor for receiving the light reflected by an external stimulus.
An optical pointing module according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
A case accommodating the optical pointing module and exposing the cover to the outside; And
And a display configured to display an image according to signal processing of the optical pointing module.

Images