JP2013134505A - Pointing device and electronic device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device for which uniformity of luminance at a peripheral edge part of a read area can be improved without increasing the number of light sources.SOLUTION: The pointing device includes: a sensor device 10 which has a read area 17 for detecting a motion of an object on an upper surface and detects the motion of the object by receiving light transmitted through the read area 17; a housing 20 provided with a cylindrical part 21 having an upper end annular part 22 surrounding the periphery of the read area 17 and a side face part 23 surrounding the periphery of the sensor device 10; LEDs 30A, 30B arranged on a lower side of the sensor device 10; a light guide 40 for guiding the light of the LEDs 30A, 30B to the side face part 23 so that the upper end annular part 22 is lighted by the light transmitted through the side face part 23; and a mask ring 50 provided between the read area 17 and the upper end annular part 22.

Description

  The present invention has a reading device for detecting the movement of an object on the upper surface, and a pointing device including a sensor unit that detects the movement of the object by receiving light transmitted through the reading region and the same. It relates to electronic equipment.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pointing device that detects a fingerprint of a finger in an electronic device such as a computer or a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone and controls the operation of the detected finger movement is known. Such a pointing device may be required to include a fingerprint detection apparatus that is less likely to generate noise and has high detection accuracy.

  For example, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional fingerprint detection apparatus. 1A shows an external view of a conventional fingerprint detection apparatus 100, and FIG. 1B shows the internal structure by dotted lines. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the conventional fingerprint detection apparatus 100 includes a light emitting unit 120 including an LED (light emitting diode) and an image sensor 130 disposed on a substrate 110. An image guide 140 is disposed on the screen. The fingerprint detection apparatus 100 is integrally formed by a mold member 150 made of a light-shielding synthetic resin.

  Further, a fingerprint detection surface 160 for detecting a fingerprint of a user who is a detection target is provided on the surface of the fingerprint detection device 100, and the light emitting unit 120 and the image guide 140 are exposed on the fingerprint detection surface 160. ing.

  When a fingerprint of a finger is detected using such a fingerprint detection apparatus 100, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 120 enters the user's finger by rubbing the fingertip so that the user touches the fingerprint detection surface 160. The scattered light from the finger reaches the image sensor 130 through the image guide 140. Thereby, the image sensor 130 can acquire a fingerprint image for detecting a user's fingerprint.

  In addition to the pointing device provided with the image guide type detection device as shown in FIG. 1, there is a pointing device provided with a lens type detection device as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

Special table 2008-510248 gazette

  When the pointing device is provided on the surface of the above-described portable communication device or the like, the pointing device also affects the design of the portable communication device, so that the appearance as a design may be required. For example, it may be required to add an illumination function that uniformly emits light at the entire periphery of a reading area (for example, corresponding to the fingerprint detection surface 160 in FIG. 1) for detecting the movement of an object.

  However, in this case, increasing the number of light sources that illuminate the peripheral portion to cause the peripheral portion to emit light uniformly as a whole has problems in terms of light source mounting space and cost. On the contrary, if the number of light sources is reduced, it appears that spot light is emitted by shining stronger than the part where the light source hits in the peripheral part, so that a uniform luminance distribution cannot be obtained. There is.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device and an electronic apparatus including the pointing device that can improve the uniformity of luminance at the peripheral portion of the reading region without increasing the number of light sources.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A sensor unit that has a reading area for detecting the movement of the object on the upper surface, and detects the movement of the object by receiving light transmitted through the reading area;
A housing provided with a cylindrical portion having an upper annular portion surrounding the reading area and a side surface surrounding the sensor portion;
A light source disposed below the sensor unit;
A light guide that guides the light of the light source to the side surface so that the upper annular portion shines with light transmitted through the side surface;
The present invention provides a pointing device and an electronic apparatus including the pointing device, each including a light shielding portion provided between the reading region and the upper end annular portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the luminance uniformity of the peripheral portion of the reading region without increasing the number of light sources.

1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional fingerprint detection apparatus 100. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pointing device 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example in which a pointing device 200 is mounted on a mobile terminal 1. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a pointing device 200. FIG. FIG. 6 is a five-side view in which a bottom view of the pointing device 200 is omitted. It is sectional drawing in XX shown in FIG. 5 of the pointing device 200. FIG. It is sectional drawing in AA shown in FIG. 5 of the pointing device 200. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sensor device 10. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pointing device 300 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a perspective view of a relay board 65. FIG. It is a top view of the pointing device 400 which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in BB shown in FIG. 11 of the pointing device 400. FIG. It is sectional drawing of 400 A of pointing devices in which the mask ring 55 is not comprised.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that “shielding” may include suppressing light transmission without completely blocking the effect of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pointing device 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The pointing device 200 is an operation interface that receives an operation input, which is input from the normal direction side of the XY plane, in the reading area 17 in an orthogonal coordinate system determined by the X, Y, and Z axes. This operation input is generated by the movement of the object. Specific examples of the object that causes the operation input include an operator's human body or a part thereof, and an operation input assisting tool such as an operation rod or a touch pen.

  The pointing device 200 has a reading area 17 on the surface for detecting the movement of such an object with or without contact. The part of the human body of the operator includes, for example, an arm or a part thereof (for example, a finger or a palm), a foot or a part thereof (for example, a toe or the sole of a foot), or the like. Based on the signal from the pointing device 200, the operation input content corresponding to the movement of the object can be grasped by the electronic device in which the central processing unit is built.

  The pointing device 200 is mounted on or connected to a predetermined host. Specific examples of the host include electronic devices such as portable terminals (mobile phones, portable game machines, portable information terminals, portable players for music and video), game machines, personal computers, vehicle computers, operation controllers, mice, and electrical appliances. Equipment. A connection form between the pointing device 200 and the host may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. The pointing device 200 itself may be an electronic device such as an operation controller or a mouse.

  The pointing device 200 can move, for example, an object displayed on the screen of a display mounted on or connected to such a host according to the operation content intended by the operator. The object displayed on the screen is, for example, an instruction display such as a cursor or a pointer. A display object such as a character may be used. In addition, when an operator gives a predetermined operation input, a desired function of the electronic device corresponding to the operation input can be exhibited.

  The pointing device 200 is provided with a reading region 17 on the upper surface with the Z direction as the normal direction. The pointing device 200 includes a housing 20 provided with a cylindrical portion 21 having an upper end annular portion 22 and a side portion 23 surrounding the reading area 17. The pointing device 200 has a function of causing the upper annular portion 22 that is the peripheral portion of the reading region 17 to emit light from the inside. That is, the upper annular portion 22 is an illumination area.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example in which the pointing device 200 is mounted on the mobile terminal 1. The mobile terminal 1 includes a main body 2 to which a pointing device 200 is attached. In the pointing device 200, the side surface portion 23 (see FIG. 2) of the housing 20 is fitted in a hole formed on the surface of the main body 2 so that the reading region 17 and the upper annular portion 22 are exposed on the surface of the main body 2. In the main body 2. Since the upper end annular portion 22 is exposed on the surface of the main body 2, the light emission of the upper end annular portion 22 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  Note that FIG. 3 is merely an example in which the pointing device is mounted on the mobile terminal. Therefore, the electronic device such as the portable terminal may have a shape different from the type in FIG. 3 in which the display is supported by the main body 2 so as to be opened and closed. For example, an electronic device of a type that is fixed to the main body without opening and closing the display may be used, or an electronic device of a type in which the display is slidably supported with respect to the main body. In addition, the electronic device may be a device that is integrated with the display, or may be a device that is connected to the display by wire or wirelessly.

  Next, the configuration of the pointing device 200 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device 200. The pointing device 200 includes a sensor device 10, a housing 20, an LED 30, a light guide 40, a mask ring 50, a relay substrate 60, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 70. The LED 30 is an illumination light emitting element for causing the upper end annular portion 22 to shine. The pointing device 200 includes two LEDs 30A and 30B as the LEDs 30.

  FIG. 5 is a five-side view in which the bottom view of the pointing device 200 is omitted. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing device 200 taken along the line XX shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing device 200 taken along line AA shown in FIG.

  The sensor device 10 is a sensor unit that has a reading area 17 on the upper surface for detecting the movement of an object and detects the movement of the object by receiving light transmitted through the reading area 17. For example, the sensor device 10 is disposed in the housing 20 so that the normal direction of the reading region 17 formed in a planar shape coincides with the Z direction. The sensor device 10 outputs a signal according to the detected movement of the object to the outside.

  The housing 20 is a case or cover provided with a cylindrical tubular portion 21 and a flange portion 24 protruding outward from the side surface portion 23 of the tubular portion 21. The cylindrical part 21 has an upper end annular part 22 having a predetermined width and a side part 23 extending downward from the upper end annular part 22. For example, the upper annular portion 22 surrounds the outer side of the reading region 17 in the circumferential direction so as to coincide with the reading region 17 in the Z direction. The side portion 23 surrounds the outer side of the main body of the sensor device 10 in the circumferential direction over the entire circumference. The side surface portion 23 functions as an optical path that transmits light emitted from the illumination LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B upward toward the upper end annular portion 22. The flange part 24 is a part for fixing the pointing device 200 to an electronic device such as a portable terminal. The flange portion 24 may be an integrally molded product with the tubular portion 21 or may be a separate part attached to the tubular portion 21.

  The LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are light source elements arranged in a space on the lower surface 19 side of the sensor device 10. The light emitted from the LED 30 reaches the upper end annular portion 22 via the light guide 40 and the side surface portion 23 of the housing 20, whereby the upper end annular portion 22 can emit light. The LED 30 may be of a type that emits light from its upper surface or a type that emits light from its side surface.

  The light guide 40 is a light guide member that guides the light emitted from the LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B to the side surface portion 23 so that the upper end annular portion 22 shines with the light transmitted through the side surface portion 23. The light guide 40 is preferably arranged in the same space on the lower surface 19 side of the sensor device 10 as the LEDs 30A and 30B so that the light emitted from the LEDs 30A and 30B can be efficiently guided to the side surface portion 23. .

  The mask ring 50 is a light shielding member provided between the reading region 17 and the upper annular portion 22. At the center of the mask ring 50, an opening 51 that penetrates in the vertical direction is formed so that the reading region 17 fits. In the case of illustration, the mask ring 50 is a board | plate material, and the external shape is circular.

  Therefore, according to the pointing device 200 having such a configuration, even if there are only two light sources for illumination, the LEDs 30A and 30B, the luminance uniformity of the upper annular portion 22 can be improved.

  That is, because the LEDs 30A and 30B are arranged on the lower surface 19 side of the sensor device 10, strong light near the LEDs 30A and 30B is blocked by the sensor device 10 and is difficult to leak into the upper annular portion 22 that is an illumination area. The uniformity of the brightness of the upper annular portion 22 can be improved. For example, when the LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are installed so as to be positioned on opposite sides of the reading region 17 when viewed through the sensor portion 10 from above the upper end annular portion 22, the luminance of the upper end annular portion 22 is determined. It is suitable at the point which improves the uniformity of.

  Further, the light guide 40 can guide the emitted light of the LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B to the side surface portion 23 disposed around the peripheral edge of the reading region 17 over the entire periphery. As a result, the emitted light of the LEDs 30A and 30B can be efficiently and uniformly made to reach the entire circumference of the upper annular portion 22 located above the side surface portion 23, so that the luminance uniformity of the upper annular portion 22 is improved. Can be increased.

  Further, the mask ring 50 can suppress the light emitted from the LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B and reaching the upper annular portion 22 via the side surface portion 23 from directly entering the reading region 17. As a result, light reaching the upper annular portion 22 is less likely to leak into the reading area 17, so that the luminance uniformity of the upper annular portion 22 can be improved.

  Next, each configuration of the pointing device 200 will be described in more detail.

  The light guide 40 is a light guide plate that has an opening 41 formed in the center of the ride guide 40 and is provided to circulate along the side surface 23 of the housing 20. By providing the light guide 40 in this manner, the emitted light of the LEDs 30A and 30B can be efficiently and uniformly distributed over the entire circumference of the side surface 23 even if the LEDs are not provided adjacent to the entire side surface 23. Thus, the luminance uniformity of the upper annular portion 22 can be effectively increased. Moreover, the light guide 40 may be comprised by one member, and may be divided | segmented into several members and comprised.

  The light guide 40 is formed of a material that can transmit light emitted from the LEDs 30A and 30B. For example, a cycloolefin polymer is mentioned as such a material.

  The LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are arranged at equidistant positions in the space below the lower surface 19 of the sensor unit 10 from the center O (see FIG. 5) in the XY plane of the upper annular portion 22. The center O exists on the axis line in the Z direction of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing 20. The LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are arranged so as to be positioned on an AA cross section passing through the center O and parallel to the Z direction. Thus, by arranging the LEDs at positions equidistant from the center O of the upper annular portion 22, the luminance uniformity of the upper annular portion 22 can be effectively improved.

  In particular, in the case of the pointing device 200, only two LEDs are arranged at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center O when viewed from above the upper end annular portion 22. It can be made to shine evenly.

  For example, the mask ring 50 has a circumferential direction in a gap between the outer side of the reading region 17 and the inner side of the upper annular portion 22 so that the upper surface 52 of the mask ring 50 coincides with the reading region 17 and the upper annular portion 22 in the Z direction. The mask member is arranged over the entire circumference. By aligning the heights of the reading area 17, the upper surface 52 of the mask ring 50 and the upper surface of the upper annular portion 22, it is possible to eliminate the hooks when sliding the fingertip and the operation input aid on the reading area 17. Improves. The mask ring 50 is supported by, for example, a flange portion protruding laterally from the main body of the sensor device 10.

  Further, when the mask ring 50 is fixed on the inner peripheral side of the side surface portion 23 of the housing 20, it may be fixed with an adhesive or may be fixed with a fitting structure. Further, the light-shielding mask ring 50 and the light-transmissive housing 20 may be integrally formed.

  The mask ring 50 has a light blocking property capable of blocking light in the same wavelength region as the emitted light of the LEDs 30A and 30B. For example, the mask ring 50 may be a member formed of a light shielding material or a member covered with a light shielding material. Further, a light shielding member may be disposed between the mask ring 50 and the reading area 17, a light shielding member may be disposed between the mask ring 50 and the upper annular portion 22, or the inside of the mask ring 50. A light shielding member may be disposed on the surface.

  When the mask ring 50 is formed of a light blocking material capable of blocking light in the same wavelength range as the emitted light of the LEDs 30A and 30B, an example of such a material is polycarbonate masked in black. Polycarbonate masked with a color other than black (for example, white) may be used.

  The housing 20 is formed of a material that can transmit light emitted from the LEDs 30A and 30B (for example, white light having a wavelength range of 0.38 μm to 0.75 μm). For example, specific examples of such materials include polycarbonate, ABS resin, AS resin, compound of ABS resin and AS resin, PMMA alloy, and the like. The light emitted from the LEDs 30A and 30B may be light of a color other than white as long as it is visible light (for example, blue, red, green, etc.). Further, the housing 20 may be plated in order to protect the upper annular portion 22 that is a light emitting surface or the entire housing 20 as long as light emitted from the LEDs 30A and 30B can be transmitted. Further, as the surface treatment of the housing 20, a discontinuous vapor deposition (NCVM) treatment may be performed. The NCVM process can suppress radio wave interference and static electricity.

  The relay board 60 is a board that is arranged on the lower surface 19 side of the sensor device 10 and relays the output signal of the sensor device 10 to the outside. By providing the relay substrate 60, the height of the lower surface 19 of the sensor device 10 can be increased, so that the mounting space for the LEDs 30A and 30B disposed below the sensor device 10 can be easily secured. The LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are disposed in a space between the inner side surface of the side surface portion 23 and the side surface of the relay substrate 60. The outer dimensions of the relay substrate 60 in the XY direction are shorter than the outer dimensions of the sensor device 10 in the XY direction so that the LEDs 30A and 30B can be arranged below the sensor device 10. Similarly, the light guide 40 is disposed in a space between the inner side surface of the side surface portion 23 and the side surface of the relay substrate 60. The relay substrate 60 is fitted in the opening 41 formed in the center of the light guide 40. By fitting the relay substrate 60 into the opening 41, the overall height of the pointing device 200 can be suppressed.

  Further, by adjusting the thickness of the relay substrate 60 in the Z direction, the surface height of the reading region 17 can be easily adjusted without changing the design of the height of the sensor device 10.

  The relay substrate 60 also functions as a support member for the sensor device 10 and has a mounting surface on which the sensor device 10 is mounted on the upper surface. Use of a resin printed board (for example, a glass epoxy board with a copper foil attached to FR4) as the relay board 60 is advantageous in terms of weight reduction and ease of mounting. The sensor device 10 is mounted on the mounting surface of the relay substrate 60, and the mounting surface of the relay substrate 60 and the lower surface 19 of the sensor device 10 are in contact with each other.

  The FPC 70 is a member that connects the wiring of the relay board 60 and the main body of an electronic device such as a portable device (not shown). The relay substrate 60 is mounted on a land electrode 71 (see FIG. 4) provided on the FPC 70. The land electrode 71 is wired to an external electrode 72 (see FIG. 4) connected to the main body of an electronic device such as a portable device (not shown). By providing the FPC 70, different types of main bodies having different terminal functions without changing the design of the relay substrate 60 only by changing the design of the FPC 70 (for example, changing the wiring configuration between the land electrode 71 and the external electrode 72). It becomes possible to connect to.

  The FPC 70 includes land electrodes on which the LEDs 30A and 30B are mounted. The LEDs 30A and 30B may be mounted on the relay board 60 or other members instead of the FPC 70.

  FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the sensor device 10. 8A shows a sectional view of the sensor device 10, and FIG. 8B shows an external view of the sensor device 10. The sensor device 10 is, for example, a fingerprint detection device that detects a user's fingerprint.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the sensor device 10 includes a substrate 11, a light emitting unit 12, an image sensor 13, an image guide 14, an overmold member 15, and an adhesive member 16. It is comprised so that it may have.

  The sensor device 10 uses an overmold member 15 that blocks visible light and transmits infrared light, instead of the mold member 150 used in the conventional fingerprint detection device 100 of FIG. The entire upper surface of the sensor device 10 is covered with the overmold member 15, and the upper surface of the sensor device 10 covered with the overmold member 15 has a reading area as a fingerprint detection surface for detecting a user's fingerprint. 17 is formed.

  The illumination LED 30 described above is disposed in a space on the lower surface 19 side of the sensor device 10. Therefore, when using the overmold member 15 as a member covering the sensor device 10, it is necessary to prevent light emitted from the LED 30 from directly reaching the light emitting unit 12, the image sensor 13, and the image guide 14.

  It is preferable that the substrate 11 has a light shielding property to block the radiation light (typically infrared light) of the LED 30 in order to prevent the radiation light of the LED 30 from directly entering the image sensor 13 or the like. . The substrate 11 may be, for example, a member formed from a light shielding material or a member covered with a light shielding material. Further, a light shielding member may be disposed on the upper surface side of the substrate 11, a light shielding member may be disposed on the lower surface side of the substrate 11, a light shielding member may be disposed on the side surface side of the substrate 11, A light shielding member may be disposed inside the substrate 11.

  The substrate 11 is a circuit board, and the light emitting unit 12, the image sensor 13, and the image guide 14 are mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 11.

  The light emitting unit 12 irradiates light on the user's finger placed in the reading area 17 of the sensor device 10. The light emitting unit 12 is constituted by, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) substrate 12-1, an LED 12-2, a filling resin 12-3, and the like, and irradiates a finger to be detected with infrared light or near infrared light. To do.

  The image sensor 13 is, for example, an area fingerprint sensor in which light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix. When the user rubs the reading area 17 so that his / her fingertip contacts, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 12 enters the finger on the reading area 17. The light incident on the finger is re-emitted from the unevenness of the finger surface, and the re-emitted scattered light passes through the image guide 14 and reaches the image sensor 13. As described above, the unevenness of the finger surface is transmitted to the image sensor 13 as a light / dark difference, and the image sensor 13 can acquire a user's fingerprint image from the transmitted light / dark difference.

  The image guide 14 is disposed on the image sensor 13 and guides scattered light from the inside of the user's finger placed in the reading area 17 of the sensor device 10 to the image sensor 13. The image guide 14 is configured by, for example, innumerable optical fiber pieces arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical, and has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a shape obtained by chamfering a corner portion facing the light-emitting portion 12 by a chafer processing. You may have.

  Further, on the side surface of the image guide 14, light other than scattered light emitted from the detection target finger (for example, light directly incident on the image sensor 13 from the light emitting unit 12 via the overmold member 15) is blocked. The light shielding member 18 is provided.

  For example, the light shielding member 18 may be provided on the side surface of the image guide 14 that is directly opposite to the light emitting unit 12 or may be provided on both side surfaces sandwiching the side surface that is directly opposite to the light emitting unit 12.

  By providing the light shielding member 18, it is possible to prevent light from the light emitting unit 12 from directly entering the image guide 14 via the inner wall portion 15 a of the overmold member 15 that separates the light emitting unit 12 and the image guide 14. . As a result, since the occurrence of crosstalk with the light reflected by the fingertip and incident is suppressed, the image sensor 13 can detect a favorable fingerprint contrast image.

  The overmold member 15 is, for example, a resin that blocks and absorbs light in the visible light region and transmits light in the infrared light region. For example, the main component is an elastomer-modified epoxy resin, the curing agent is an aromatic amine, and the curing accelerator is 3 It is a transfer mold resin made of a secondary amine or the like.

  Since the overmold member 15 transmits light in the infrared region as described above, the light from the light emitting unit 12 is incident on the fingertip placed in the reading region 17 and the scattered light from the fingertip is converted into the image sensor 13. Can be delivered to.

  In addition, a reading region 17 is formed in the upper surface region of the overmold member 15. Unlike the conventional mold member 150 (refer to FIG. 1), the overmold member 15 is not formed so as to expose the light emitting unit 12 and the image guide 14 but is integrally formed so as to cover the entire upper surface of the sensor device 10. .

  By covering the entire upper surface of the sensor device 10 including the reading region 17 with the overmold member 15, the light emitting unit 12 and the image guide 14 having a color tone different from that of the overmold member 15 may be prevented from being exposed to the reading region 17. it can. Thereby, since it becomes possible to eliminate the pattern on the upper surface of the sensor device 10 and make the color tone the same, while improving the design of the surface of an electronic device such as a portable communication device in which the sensor device 10 is provided, It becomes possible to perform highly accurate fingerprint detection. Further, by using the overmold member 15, it is possible to omit a polishing process for exposing the light emitting unit 12 and the image guide 14.

  The overmold member 15 has a transmittance in the visible light region of, for example, a wavelength of about 300 nm to 650 nm, which is almost 0%, and a transmittance in a wavelength region of, for example, 0.7 μm or more in the infrared light region is rapidly increased.

  Therefore, the overmold member 15 transmits the light in the infrared light region of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 12 and blocks and absorbs the light in the visible light region. As a result, it is possible to irradiate the fingertip placed on the reading area 17 from the light emitting unit 12, and it is possible to deliver scattered light from within the finger to the image sensor 13.

  The adhesive member 16 is a member that adheres between the image sensor 13 and the image guide 14, and uses, for example, an adhesive that is a low-elasticity resin. As a result, the adhesive member 16 adheres while ensuring a predetermined thickness between the image sensor 13 and the image guide 14 and can prevent the occurrence of dark spots caused by the separation of the image sensor 13 and the image guide 14. It becomes.

  FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a pointing device 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A description of the same points as in the above embodiment will be omitted. The pointing device 300 is obtained by replacing the LEDs 30A and 30B, the light guide 40, and the relay board 60 of the pointing device 200 described above with a relay board 65 and an LED 30C.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the relay board 65. An opening 66 is formed at the center of the relay substrate 65. By forming the opening 66, it is possible to easily provide a space for disposing the LED 30 that is a light source for illumination.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the LED 30 </ b> C arranged in the space formed by the opening 66 is located at a position equidistant from each point of the upper end annular portion 22 in a space immediately below the center of the lower surface 19 of the sensor device 10. Has been placed. By arranging in this way, the uniformity of the brightness of the upper annular portion 22 can be enhanced with one LED 30C. In the case of FIG. 9, the LED 30 </ b> C is attached to the lower surface 19 so that its light emitting surface faces downward, but may be attached to the FPC 70 so that its light emitting surface faces upward. Further, light may be emitted from the side surface of the LED 30C.

  In the case of FIG. 9, a part or all of the relay substrate 65 may function as a light guide. Since the relay substrate 65 serves both as the height adjustment function and the light guide function of the sensor device 10, both space saving and uniform brightness of the upper annular portion 22 can be realized.

  In addition, a color filter 67 may be provided in the inner space of the opening 66 formed in the center of the relay substrate 65. By simply changing the color of the color filter 67, the illumination color of the upper annular portion 22 can be easily changed. Further, by changing the resist color of the relay substrate 65, the color of the illumination of the upper annular portion 22 can be easily changed.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view of a pointing device 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. A description of the same points as in the above embodiment will be omitted. The pointing device 400 is obtained by replacing the housing 20 and the mask ring 50 of the pointing device 200 described above with a housing 25 and a mask ring 55.

  The housing 25 is a case provided with a tubular portion 26 having a rectangular tube shape and a flange portion 29 protruding outward from a side surface portion 28 of the tubular portion 26. The cylindrical part 26 has an upper end annular part 27 having a predetermined width and a side part 28 extending downward from the square upper end annular part 27. The mask ring 55 is a light shielding member provided between the reading region 17 and the upper annular portion 22. In the illustrated case, the outer shape of the mask ring 55 is a square shape.

  12 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing device 400 taken along the line BB shown in FIG. The LEDs 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are arranged so as to be positioned on a BB cross section including one diagonal line bf of the two diagonal lines bf and dh of the upper annular portion 27.

  The apex portion on the diagonal line of the upper end annular portion 27 is an intersection portion of two sides of the upper end annular portion 27 (for example, the apex portion b is an intersection portion of the sides bd and bh). Since the emitted light of the LED 30 is guided to the side surface portion 28 of the apex portion by the light guide 40, the emitted light of the LED can be efficiently supplied to the upper end annular portion 27, so that the luminance uniformity of the upper end annular portion 27 is uniform. Can be increased efficiently.

  Next, a description will be given of results obtained by experimenting on uniformity of luminance in the illumination area with and without a light-shielding portion provided between the reading area and the illumination area.

  The result of measuring the luminance of the upper annular portion 27 (see FIG. 12) of the pointing device 400 in which the mask ring 55 is configured and the luminance of the upper annular portion 27A (see FIG. 13) of the pointing device 400A in which the mask ring 55 is not configured. Is shown below. The number of illumination light sources is also two (LEDs 30A and 30B), and the same light guide 40 is used.

マスクリング５５が無い場合のＭａｘ輝度とは、図１１に示される８つの輝度測定ポイントａ〜ｈの中で最も高い輝度が測定された点ｂでの輝度測定値である。マスクリング５５が無い場合のＭｉｎ輝度とは、８つの輝度測定ポイントａ〜ｈの中で最も低い輝度が測定された点ｄでの輝度測定値である。一方、マスクリング５５が有る場合のＭａｘ輝度とは、８つの輝度測定ポイントａ〜ｈの中で最も高い輝度が測定された点ｂでの輝度測定値である。マスクリング５５が無い場合のＭｉｎ輝度とは、８つの輝度測定ポイントａ〜ｈの中で最も低い輝度が測定された点ｈでの輝度測定値である。

The Max luminance when there is no mask ring 55 is a luminance measurement value at a point b where the highest luminance is measured among the eight luminance measurement points a to h shown in FIG. The Min luminance when there is no mask ring 55 is a luminance measurement value at a point d where the lowest luminance among the eight luminance measurement points a to h is measured. On the other hand, the Max luminance when the mask ring 55 is provided is a luminance measurement value at a point b where the highest luminance is measured among the eight luminance measurement points a to h. The Min luminance when there is no mask ring 55 is a luminance measurement value at a point h at which the lowest luminance among the eight luminance measurement points a to h is measured.

The luminance uniformity U of the upper annular portion is
U = Min luminance / Max luminance × 100%
It is represented by Therefore, by providing the mask ring 55, it is possible to improve the luminance uniformity of the annular illumination area without increasing the number of LEDs.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, improvements, and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Substitutions can be added. You may combine the structure of each part of the above-mentioned Example.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the circular upper end annular portion 22 and the rectangular upper end annular portion 27 are exemplified as the illumination area. However, the shape of the upper annular portion may be an arbitrary polygon such as a triangle or a pentagon, or may be an ellipse.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the surface shape of the reading region 17, a square with four rounded corners is illustrated. However, the shape of the reading area 17 may be an arbitrary polygon such as a triangle or a pentagon, or may be an ellipse. Similarly, the cylindrical portion of the housing 20 is not limited to a cylindrical shape or a rectangular prismatic shape, but may be an arbitrary polygonal shape such as a triangle or a pentagon.

  In addition, the light guide that guides the light of the LED 30 to the side surface 23 of the housing 20 may be provided integrally with the housing 20 on the bottom surface side of the side surface 23.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal 2 Main body 10 Sensor apparatus 11 Board | substrate 12 Light emission part 13 Image sensor 14 Image guide 15 Overmold member 15a Inner wall part 16 Adhesive member 17 Reading area 18 Light-shielding member 19 Lower surface 20, 25 Housing 21, 26 Cylindrical part 22, 27 Upper end annular part 23, 28 Side part 24, 29 Flange part 30, 30A, 30B, 30C LED
40 Light Guide 41 Opening 50, 55 Mask Ring 51 Opening 52 Upper Surface 60, 65 Relay Board 66 Opening 67 Coloring Filter 70 FPC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Fingerprint detection apparatus 110 Board | substrate 120 Light emission part 130 Image sensor 140 Image guide 150 Mold member 160 Fingerprint detection surface 200,300,400,400A Pointing device

Claims (12)

A sensor unit that has a reading area for detecting the movement of the object on the upper surface, and detects the movement of the object by receiving light transmitted through the reading area;
A housing provided with a cylindrical portion having an upper annular portion surrounding the reading area and a side surface surrounding the sensor portion;
A light source disposed below the sensor unit;
A light guide that guides the light of the light source to the side surface so that the upper annular portion shines with light transmitted through the side surface;
A pointing device comprising: a light-shielding portion provided between the reading region and the upper-end annular portion.   The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide portion is provided so as to circulate along the side surface portion.   The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed so as to be located at an equal distance from a center of the upper annular portion.   The pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the light source is disposed so as to be positioned on a cross section including a diagonal line of the upper end annular portion.   The pointing device according to claim 4, wherein the upper annular portion has a rectangular shape.   The pointing device according to claim 5, wherein the light source is disposed so as to be located on a cross section including one of the two diagonals of the upper annular portion. Comprising a substrate disposed below the sensor unit;
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed between the side surface portion and the substrate.   The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged so as to be located at an equal distance from each point of the upper end annular portion. Comprising a substrate disposed below the sensor unit;
The pointing device according to claim 8, wherein the light source is disposed at a central portion of the substrate.   The pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the substrate includes the light guide unit.   The pointing device according to claim 9, further comprising a color filter at the center.   An electronic apparatus comprising the pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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