JP2011123036A - Particle movement type azimuth sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a particle movement type acceleration sensor which makes an output signal change continuously according to an inclination or a rotation angle changing all the time. <P>SOLUTION: The particle movement type acceleration sensor is equipped with a case, at least one light emitting element 25, two light receiving elements 24 and 24, and a plurality of particles 26, and a holding space 210 of the case is equipped with four portions 211, 212, 213 and 214 arranged in the shape of a ring and communicating with each other. A first opening part 216 communicating with the first portion 211, and two second opening parts 217 and 217 communicating with the second portion 212 and the fourth portion 214, respectively, are formed. The light emitting element 25 emits light through the first opening part 216. The light receiving elements 24 detect the light through the second openings 217. The particles 26 are provided in the holding space 210, move in the direction of gravity when they incline, and block the light emitting element 25 or the light receiving elements 24 partially; and the respective light receiving elements 24 detect the light of specific intensity and output electric signals of specific strengths. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor, and more particularly to a particle movement type acceleration sensor.

With the widespread use of portable electronic devices such as digital cameras or mobile phones with camera functions, it has become common to see images on them. Accordingly, an image rotation function for automatically rotating the image display direction with the rotation of the portable electronic device is gradually being seen in the portable electronic device.

Please refer to FIG. This is a tilt sensor 10 disclosed in Patent Document 1 that is mounted in the portable electronic device and can detect rotation thereof and output a corresponding signal to convert an image display direction. . As shown in the figure, the inclination sensor 10 includes a case 11 that defines one V-shaped gap 110, one light emitting element 12 that emits light toward the V-shaped gap 110, and the V-shaped gap. Two light receiving elements 13 that receive the light in the portion 110 and one rolling element 14 that is provided so as to be able to roll in the V-shaped gap portion 110 are provided. When the tilt sensor 10 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction with respect to the direction of gravity, the rolling element 14 rolls from a lower central position to a distal end position in both the left and right directions of the tilt sensor 10. To do.

When the rolling element 14 is located at the center position, the rolling element 14 blocks the light emitting element 12, and the light emitting element 12 cannot emit light into the V-shaped gap 110, At this time, the plurality of light receiving elements 13 cannot detect any light. When the rolling element 14 is positioned at the left or right end position of the V-shaped gap 110, the rolling element 14 blocks one light receiving element 13, thereby allowing light in the V-shaped gap 110. However, the other light receiving element 13 can receive light without being affected. Accordingly, the tilt sensor 10 can output a corresponding signal and control the display direction of the image correspondingly.

Taiwan Patent Application No. 95142815

However, the rolling element 14 can reciprocate only between the central position and the left or right end position, that is, the tilt sensor 10 can only output three types of signals correspondingly. Will be limited. For example, the tilt sensor 10 can perform a reciprocal conversion only between the three positions of a predetermined position, 90 ° rotation to the left, and 90 ° rotation to the right. The display direction of the image cannot be continuously changed in accordance with the inclination angle where is constantly changing.

One object of the present invention is to provide a particle moving acceleration capable of continuously changing its output electrical signal in response to a constantly changing tilt or rotation angle to provide more change in the application. It is in providing a sensor.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a particle movement type acceleration sensor including a case, at least one light emitting element, two light receiving elements, and a plurality of particles. A housing space is formed in the case, and the housing space is sequentially arranged in four rings and communicates with each other, a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. And have a part. The case further includes a first opening communicating with the first portion and two second openings communicating with the second portion and the fourth portion, respectively. Yes. The light emitting element is disposed in the first opening and emits light into the accommodation space through the first opening. The plurality of light receiving elements are respectively disposed in the second openings and detect the intensity of light in the housing space through the plurality of second openings. The plurality of particles are movably provided in the accommodation space. Thus, the plurality of particles move in the direction of gravity when the particle movement type acceleration sensor is tilted, thereby blocking a part of the light emitted from the light emitting element into the accommodation space or receiving one light. The elements are partially blocked to detect light in the housing space, and the plurality of light receiving elements

It is the schematic of the conventional inclination sensor. It is an exploded view of the component of the particle movement type acceleration sensor in the 1st preferred example concerning the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the particle movement type acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 2. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is the schematic of the various use condition of the said particle movement type acceleration sensor. It is sectional drawing of the particle | grain movement-type acceleration sensor in the 2nd preferable Example which concerns on this invention.

The technical contents and detailed description of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. This is the particle movement type acceleration sensor according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The particle movement type acceleration sensor mainly includes a case 20, a circuit board 23, two light emitting elements 24, two light receiving elements 25, and a plurality of particles 26.

The case 20 includes a first case portion 21 and a second case portion 22. The first case portion 21 is formed with a substantially circular accommodation space 210 corresponding to the second case portion 22. The accommodation space 210 includes a first portion 211, a second portion 212, a third portion 213, and a fourth portion 214 that are sequentially arranged in four rings and communicate with each other. The first portion 211, the second portion 212, the third portion 213, and the fourth portion 214 each have a sector shape. The first portion 211 is disposed on the opposite side of the third portion 213, and the second portion 212 is disposed on the opposite side of the fourth portion 214.

The first case part 21 includes a flat part 215 located on one side surface thereof. On the flat surface portion 215, a first opening 216 communicating with the first portion 211, and a second portion 212 and a fourth portion 214 communicating with the second portion 212 are communicated. Two second openings 217 are formed. A line connecting the plurality of second openings 217 preferably passes through the graphic center of the circular accommodation space 210.

In addition, the second case portion 22 is fitted in the ring-shaped fitting groove 218 of the first case portion 21 so as to fit the second case portion 22 into the first case portion. 21 is provided with a ring-shaped protrusion 221 to be fixed to 21.

The circuit board 23 is provided on the planar portion 215 of the first case portion 21. The circuit board 23 may be a printed wiring board or a flexible circuit board. In addition, the circuit board 23 has a plurality of conductive terminals 231 formed on a plane portion opposite to the first case portion 21 side. The plurality of conductive terminals 231 extend from the surface or inside of the circuit board 23 to the front of the circuit board 23 and are electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting elements 24 and the plurality of light receiving elements 25. Power is supplied to the light emitting element 24 and the plurality of light receiving elements 25, or signals received from the plurality of light receiving elements 25 are received.

The plurality of light emitting elements 24 are provided on the circuit board 23 and are disposed in the first opening 216, and emit light into the accommodation space 210 through the first opening 216. In the present embodiment, the plurality of light emitting elements 24 are light emitting diodes, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The plurality of light receiving elements 25 are provided on the circuit board 23 and are disposed in the plurality of second openings 217, and light in the accommodation space 210 through the plurality of second openings 217. Detect the strength of. In this embodiment, the plurality of light receiving elements 25 are phototransistors. However, the present invention is not limited to this in actual implementation.

The plurality of particles 26 are movably provided in the accommodation space 210. Specifically, the plurality of particles 26 may be sand or metal particles, but may be particles of any solid material in an actual embodiment.

Further, in order to prevent a situation in which the plurality of particles 26 fall into the first opening 216 and the second opening 217 during movement and cannot move freely, the particle moving acceleration sensor of the present embodiment is The transparent plate 28 provided between the first opening 216 and the accommodation space 210, and two sheets provided between the plurality of second openings 217 and the accommodation space 210. A transparent plate 28 is further provided.

4 to 11 illustrate eight different situations during actual operation of the particle movement type acceleration sensor. First, referring to FIG. If the gravitational direction is a downward direction in the drawing, the plurality of particles 26 are naturally below the first portion 211 of the accommodation space 210, that is, in a place where the potential energy of the plurality of particles 26 is minimized. get together. At this time, the plurality of particles 26 block all the light emitting elements 24. In this case, since the plurality of light emitting elements 24 cannot emit light into the accommodating space 210, none of the plurality of light receiving elements 25 can detect light, and at this time, the plurality of light receiving elements 25 correspond to each other. The first electric signal set outputted by the particle movement type acceleration sensor is outputted.

Please refer to FIG. When the particle movement type acceleration sensor is rotated 45 degrees in the clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 4, the plurality of particles 26 naturally move in the gravitational direction, and a part of the particles 26 is a part of the first portion 211. It moves from below to below the fourth portion 214. At this time, the plurality of particles 26 block a part of the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements 24 into the receiving space 210 and partially block the right light receiving element 25 to block the light in the receiving space 210. Although detected, the left light receiving element 25 is not blocked by the particles 26. In this case, the left and right light receiving elements 25 respectively detect light of a specific intensity, and respectively correspond to an electric signal of a specific intensity that is a second electric signal set output by the particle movement type acceleration sensor. Can be output.

See FIG. When the particle movement type acceleration sensor is rotated 45 degrees in the clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 5, the plurality of particles 26 naturally move in the direction of gravity and almost completely below the fourth portion 214. Moving. At this time, the plurality of particles 26 block a part of the lower light receiving element 25, while the upper light receiving element 25 is not blocked by the plurality of particles 26. In this case, the upper and lower light receiving elements 25 respectively detect light of a specific intensity, and respectively correspond to an electric signal of a specific intensity that is a second electric signal set output from the particle movement type acceleration sensor. Can be output.

By analogy in this way, the particle movement type acceleration sensor sends out fourth to eighth different electric signal sets, respectively, even under different conditions of FIGS. Thus, there are no restrictions on the application. For example, when the tilt or rotation angle of the portable electronic device is dynamically changing, the image can have eight different display directions.

In addition, when the plurality of particles 26 move between any two adjacent portions in the accommodation space, the degree to which the plurality of light emitting elements 24 are blocked or the degree to which the plurality of light receiving elements 25 are blocked is continuous. Therefore, the intensity of light detected by each of the light receiving elements 25 also changes continuously. Therefore, the electric signal output from each of the light receiving elements 25 changes with an effect close to analog, and the particle movement type acceleration sensor can output more kinds of electric signal sets, and more in application. Many changes can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 12, the particle movement type acceleration sensor in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same in structure as the first preferred embodiment, but the difference is the second preferred embodiment. In the particle movement type acceleration sensor, the plurality of light emitting elements 24 and the plurality of light receiving elements 25 are disposed on opposite sides of the case 20, respectively.

The plurality of light receiving elements 25 are also provided on a circuit board 23 on one side of the first case portion 21 in the case 20. However, the plurality of light emitting elements 24 are provided on the other circuit board 29 provided on the other side of the case 20. In addition, the first opening 216 is also formed on the second case portion 22 so that the plurality of light emitting elements 24 emit light into the accommodation space 210 through the first opening 216. Has been.

The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and additions made based on the scope of the claims of the present invention are included in the scope protected by the present invention.

20 case 21 first case portion 210 accommodation space 211 first portion 212 second portion 213 third portion 214 fourth portion 215 flat portion 216 first opening portion 217 second opening portion 22 second portion Case part 221 Ring-shaped protrusion 23 Circuit board 231 Conductive terminal 24 Light emitting element 25 Light receiving element 26 Particles 27 and 28 Transparent plate 29 Circuit board

Claims (9)

A particle movement type acceleration sensor,
A housing space is formed, and the housing space is arranged in four rings in order and communicates with each other, a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. A first opening that communicates with the first portion and two second openings that communicate with the second portion and the fourth portion, respectively. And the case
At least one light emitting element that is disposed in the first opening and emits light into the housing space through the first opening;
Two light receiving elements respectively disposed in the plurality of second openings and detecting the intensity of light in the accommodation space through the plurality of second openings;
Particles provided movably in the housing space,
Thus, the plurality of particles move in the direction of gravity when the particle movement type acceleration sensor is tilted, thereby blocking a part of the light emitted from the light emitting element into the accommodation space or receiving one light. The element is partially blocked to detect light in the accommodation space, the plurality of light receiving elements respectively detect light having a specific intensity, and respectively output an electric signal having a specific intensity. Particle movement type acceleration sensor. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit board provided on one side of the case, on which the light emitting element and the plurality of light receiving elements are provided. One circuit board provided on one side of the case and provided with the plurality of light receiving elements thereon, and the other circuit provided on the other side of the case and provided with the plurality of light emitting elements. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the housing space is circular. Further comprising three transparent plates respectively provided between the first opening and the accommodation space and between the plurality of second openings and the accommodation space. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein a line connecting the plurality of second openings passes through a graphic center of the accommodation space. 3. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board has a plurality of conductive terminals formed on a surface opposite to the case. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are light emitting diodes. 2. The particle movement type acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light receiving elements are phototransistors.

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