KR101151230B1 - Ultra slim optical joystick and mobile terminal having it - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultra-slim optical joystick installed in a portable terminal and generating a cursor on a display screen, and a portable terminal having the same.

The present invention, a light source; A housing illuminated with light emitted from the light source; An imaging member installed inside the housing; A light receiving sensor receiving light formed through the image forming member; And a sensing sensor installed inside the housing to sense the capacitance generated when the subject touches and recognize the capacitance as a click signal. Characterized in that it comprises a.

Optical Joystick, Cursor, Receiver, Sensor

Description

ULTRA SLIM OPTICAL JOYSTICK AND MOBILE TERMINAL HAVING IT}

The present invention relates to an ultra-slim optical joystick installed in a portable terminal and generating a cursor on a display screen, and a portable terminal having the same.

In general, a terminal of an electronic device such as a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA) adopts a user interface using a keypad.

In more detail, a terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA includes a keypad formed with a plurality of buttons for inputting numbers, letters, or symbols, and a user presses a button of the keypad to store desired data such as numbers or words. Menus can be selected by typing on the instrument or by pressing a button cursor and selector.

The terminal of the electronic device includes a display unit to display data input by the user through the keypad and related information.

In recent years, wireless Internet services such as WIBRO (Wireless Broadband) and wireless mobile communication services have been commercialized to support communication services or Internet services using electronic devices.Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are used in mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones and PDAs. Windows operating systems, such as Windows CE, are being adopted to support this.

In addition, with the development of communication technology, portable electronic devices provide various additional services to users, and the GUI-based Windows operating system makes it easy to provide additional services by portable electronic devices.

A user interface for more convenient use of a general electronic device is a pointing device such as a mouse, a touchpad, a joystick, etc. Recently, a pointer such as a cursor is detected by detecting an optical signal that changes according to the movement of a finger, which is a subject. Optical joysticks that move or receive information and / or commands desired by the user have been developed and applied to electronic devices.

1 and 2, a general light joystick 10 may include a light guide 11, a cover 12, an illumination guide (not shown) for guiding light emitted from the light source 11 to the cover 12, An image sensor 15 for sensing an optical signal, an imaging system 14 for guiding light to the image sensor 15, and a holder 13 for receiving components such as an illumination guide, an imaging system 14, and a light source. It is configured by.

The optical joystick 10 may be provided separately from the electronic device 1 and may be connected by wire or wirelessly. In recent years, the optical joystick 10 may be directly mounted on the main body 2 of the electronic device such as a notebook or a mobile phone.

The outer surface (upper surface) of the cover is provided with an operation surface to which the subject P, such as a finger, is contacted for the operation of the electronic device, and the image sensor 15 has a PCB (unsigned) for processing the input optical signal. ) Is provided.

Accordingly, when the finger, which is the subject P, is moved to the operation surface, the optical signal input to the image sensor 15 changes according to the movement of the finger, and thus the electronic device may be manipulated according to the movement of the finger.

In more detail, in the state where the subject P is not in contact with the upper side and the operation surface of the cover 12, the light emitted from the light source 11 passes through the cover 12 through the lighting guide and passes through the cover 12. ) Is released to the outside.

On the other hand, when a subject such as a finger contacts the upper side of the cover 12, the light emitted from the light source 11 hits the subject P, is reflected, and then enters the image sensor 15 through the imaging system 14. Thus, the image of the subject is picked up with an optical signal.

Here, the imaging system 14 includes a plurality of components, such as a prism 14a and a lens 14b made of a material such as glass or optical plastic, and condenses the light reflected by the subject in a predetermined direction and at the same time to condense the image. When transmitted to the sensor 15 and the subject outside the cover 12 is moved, the optical signal reflected by the subject 12 and sensed by the image sensor 15 is also changed.

The image sensor 15 detects a change in the optical signal due to the movement of the subject, and accordingly, the movement of the cursor or the pointer is displayed on the display unit 3 of the electronic device 1.

The detection method of the optical signal by the image sensor 15 and the control method of the image are similar to those of the optical mouse mounted in the notebook computer, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Since the above-described general optical joystick operates a portable electronic device by moving a cursor, that is, a pointer according to a movement of a subject, it is possible to implement a convenient operation as compared to a method of operating a portable electronic device by moving a cursor by a conventional keypad button. There is.

However, conventional optical joysticks are manufactured in a slimmer form by reducing the thickness of each component such as a holder, an imaging system, and an image sensor in order to meet the specifications of a portable terminal manufactured in a slimmer form. There is a limit to making the overall structure slimmer than the current thickness by keeping a minimum thickness.

In addition, the conventional optical joystick has to include the minimum thickness of the PCB for the dome switch is installed, it is difficult to reduce the overall thickness.

Meanwhile, among the components of the conventional optical joystick, the dome switch is mounted on a PCB in order for a user to select various icons or texts provided on the display screen.

However, in order to click an icon or text by pressing a dome switch, a protruding structure such as an actuator (not shown) corresponding to the dome switch must be formed on the panel of the portable terminal, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost, and the dome switch and the actuator. Due to its thickness, there is a problem that the height of the entire optical joystick is also increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, it is possible to omit the installation of the dome switch, it is possible to conveniently select the icon or text provided on the display screen, the ultra slim of the entire standard through the omission of the dome switch It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultra slim optical joystick and a portable terminal having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-slim optical joystick and a portable terminal having the same, which can efficiently reduce manufacturing cost by omitting installation of a dome switch.

The ultra-slim optical joystick and the portable terminal having the same according to the embodiment of the present invention have an effect of minimizing the overall module thickness by omitting the dome switch.

In addition, the omission of the dome switch has the effect of efficiently reducing the manufacturing cost by simplifying the production process.

In order to achieve the above object effectively, the present invention provides a light source; A housing illuminated with light emitted from the light source; An imaging member installed inside the housing; A light receiving sensor receiving light formed through the image forming member; And a sensing sensor installed inside the housing to sense the capacitance generated when the subject touches and recognize the capacitance as a click signal. And MCU for receiving the displacement value data calculated by the light receiving sensor and the data sensed by the detection sensor and transmits to the microcomputer of the portable terminal; Characterized in that it comprises a.

The light source may be an LED emitting infrared light, and the housing may be made of an optical plastic through which only infrared light emitted from the light source is transmitted.

In addition, the housing may further include an infrared pass layer through which only infrared light is transmitted to the transparent plastic surface.

In this case, the housing may further include a holder for receiving the imaging member. In such a holder, the detection sensor is disposed to cover a part of the upper surface of the imaging member to block external light flowing into the imaging member.

The light receiving sensor continuously photographs the light received through the image forming member and calculates the light as a displacement value. The detection sensor may touch the subject when the variation range of the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor is within a preset range. To be recognized.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing an ultra slim light joystick according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ultra slim light joystick according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a candle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart showing the principle of touch sensing of a slim optical joystick.

As shown, the ultra-slim light joystick 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in the housing 60 and the housing 60 where the light of the light source 50 and the light source 50 are illuminated to form light. It is provided to include a light receiving sensor 80 for receiving the light formed with the image forming member 70 and the sensor 80 is installed in the housing 80 to detect the contact of the subject.

The light source 50 may be an LED for irradiating visible light may be used, and may be an LED for emitting infrared light. In addition, at least one light source 50 may be used according to specifications required by an installed device.

Light emitted from the light source 50 illuminates the housing 60. That is, the light emitted from the light source 50 is intensively irradiated toward a portion of the circumferential surface of the housing 60 to which the user's subject is in contact.

The housing 60 may be manufactured by forming an optical plastic through which only infrared rays are transmitted or forming a pass layer through which only infrared rays are transmitted through the transparent panel.

The housing 60 is divided into a transmission zone 62 and a non-transmission zone 64 so that light emitted from the light source can be transmitted only through a portion in which the object is in contact.

The boundary between the transmission zone 62 and the non-transmission zone 64 may be distinguished by a tape attached to the inner surface of the housing 60, and may be distinguished by printing a coated paper having a predetermined shape on the surface of the housing 60. .

The holder 60 is coupled to the housing 60 configured as described above. The holder 65 is not necessarily provided, but it is preferable that the holder 65 is provided for a stable installation state of the imaging member 70 in a state where the imaging member 70 is accommodated in the holder 65.

The holder 65 may be used as a material of opaque black EMC widely used in the semiconductor field and synthetic resin material through which light is not transmitted.

The interior of the holder 65 is penetrated for mounting of the imaging member 70, and although not shown in the figure, a plurality of grooves or protrusions are formed along the inner wall surface thereof.

The imaging member 70 serves to form an image in the process of returning light hitting the subject P in contact with the housing 60.

That is, the imaging member 70 may be a lens 72 for condensing light simultaneously with condensing light, and a pair of prisms 74 or a pair of reflecting plates for converting an optical path as an additional configuration other than the lens 72. It may be configured to include (not shown).

In more detail, when the imaging member 70 is composed only of the lens 72, the optical path itself is configured only in a vertical structure in order to secure a sufficient focal length of the lens. In this case, the imaging member 70 is formed. The lens 72 is used only.

In addition, when the imaging member 70 includes not only the lens 72 but also a pair of prisms 74 or a reflecting plate, the optical path itself is horizontal in a vertical structure so that the focal length of the lens 72 can be sufficiently secured. In this case, the imaging member 70 is used as the lens 72 and the pair of prisms 74 or the reflecting plate.

The imaging member 70 configured as described above may further include a stop 76 for blocking the progress of uncondensed lights.

The stop 76 has a through hole 76a having a predetermined diameter formed at a central portion thereof, and a locking jaw (not shown) is formed around the formed hole 65a stably in the holder 65. have.

In addition, the light that is imaged through the image forming member 70 is transmitted to the light receiving sensor 80. The light receiving sensor 80 continuously photographs the received light, calculates the change of the captured image screen as a displacement value, and then transmits it to the MCU 95.

In this case, the light receiving sensor 80 may transmit the displacement value directly to the microcomputer of the portable terminal without transmitting the displacement value to the MCU 95. This is to enable the use without a separate MCU (95) according to the design of the mobile terminal manufacturer.

The light receiving sensor 80 is mounted on the printed circuit board 85 through an SMT process and then molded into a package. Molding of the light receiving sensor 80 may be used as the material (Epoxy Molding Compound (EMC) through which only infrared light is transmitted so as to minimize the possibility that external light can be introduced.

On the other hand, inside the housing 60, a detection sensor 90 for detecting the capacitance generated when the subject is in contact with the click signal is installed.

The detection sensor 90 is disposed at a position closest to an upper surface of the inner surface of the housing 60 to which the subject P contacts. That is, the detection sensor 90 is disposed on the upper surface of the holder 65 to detect the capacitance generated when the subject P contacts the housing 60. Preferably, the upper surface of the holder 65 It is provided so as to cover the prism 74 or the reflecting plate of the imaging member which is not coaxial with the transmission zone 62.

This is because when the external light is directly introduced into the light receiving sensor 80 through the prism 74 or the reflecting plate disposed above the light receiving sensor 80 through the transmission zone 62 of the housing, the light hits the subject. This is because a malfunction may occur due to a sensing interference by external light in the process of being reflected and progressed afterwards.

The sensor 90 is manufactured by coating an insulator 94 on an FPCB 92 made of a conductor. The operating principle of the sensor 90 is to detect the capacitance generated when the subject P is in contact with the housing 60 in the MCU (95), the signal is detected by the MCU 95 to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal It is transmitted and recognized as a click signal.

Here, the signal of the sensing sensor 90 may be directly transmitted to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal, instead of the microcomputer 95 of the mobile terminal. This is because the installation of the MCU 95 varies depending on the design.

At this time, when the subject P contacts the surface of the housing 60, the capacitance and the displacement value may be generated at the same time. In this case, the subject P is a contact for the click or a subject for moving the cursor on the display screen. It is unclear whether (P) is in contact, which may cause a malfunction.

Therefore, in order to solve such a malfunction, if the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor 80 is included in the preset time and displacement value range, the microcomputer may set the recognition as a click signal of the subject P for click.

On the contrary, if a time and a displacement value out of a predetermined range are generated, the microcomputer may set the contact of the subject P for the movement of the cursor instead of the contact of the subject P for clicking.

The ultra-slim optical joystick and the portable terminal having the same according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above perform the following functions.

When the cursor is moved to an icon or text disposed on the display screen of the portable terminal, the subject P is brought into contact with the surface of the housing 60 of the optical joystick.

After the subject P contacts the surface of the housing 60, the subject P is moved to move the cursor to a desired position of the user.

When the subject P is moved in contact with the surface of the housing 60, the light irradiated from the light source 50 is reflected by the subject P in contact with the housing 60 to return to the inside of the housing 60. Then, the returned light is finally transmitted to the light receiving sensor 80 in the condensed and formed state through the image forming member (70).

The light receiving sensor 80 continuously photographs the received light to calculate the changed image as the displacement value, and transmits the calculated displacement value to the MCU 95.

When the cursor is moved to a desired position by the operating principle, the user separates the subject P from the housing 60 surface by a predetermined distance and then contacts the housing 60 surface again.

At this time, the detection sensor 90 detects the contact of the subject's housing 60 with or without the generation of capacitance, and the detected signal is transmitted to the MCU 95.

The MCU 95 determines whether the magnitude of the displacement value detected by the light receiving sensor 80 is within a preset range. If the determination result is not within the preset range, the signal received from the detection sensor 90 is transferred to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal. Block transmission.

Therefore, only the displacement value information detected by the light receiving sensor 80 is transmitted to the microcomputer of the portable terminal, and the cursor is displayed on the display screen according to the transmitted data.

On the contrary, when the displacement value transmitted from the light receiving sensor 80 exists within a preset range, the MCU 95 transmits only the signal transmitted from the detection sensor 90 to the microcomputer of the portable terminal so that an icon or text is clicked.

Here, although the signal transmitted from the light receiving sensor 80 and the sensor 90 of the present invention has been described to be transmitted to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal via the MCU 95, when the MCU 95 is not provided, these signals Is directly transmitted to the microcomputer of the portable terminal, and the microcomputer performs the same function as the MCU 95.

When the movement of the cursor and the selection of the icon or the text proceed according to this principle, it is possible to use smoothly even without a dome switch, and finally, the ultra-slim optical joystick 100 can be manufactured.

Although the ultra-slim optical joystick and the portable terminal having the same according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an optical joystick is installed in a portable terminal.

Figure 2 is a state diagram showing the operation of the conventional optical joystick operation.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an ultra slim optical joystick according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ultra slim light joystick according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a touch sensing operation principle of an ultra slim optical joystick according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for each major part of drawing>

50: light source 60: housing

62: transmission zone 64: non-transmission zone

70: imaging member 72: lens

74: prism 76: stop

80: receiving sensor 90: detecting sensor

92: FPCB 94: insulator

95: MCU 100: light joystick

Claims (11)

Light source; A housing illuminated with light emitted from the light source; An imaging member installed inside the housing; A light receiving sensor receiving light formed through the image forming member and calculating the displacement as a displacement value; A holder accommodating the imaging member; A detection sensor installed inside the housing and detecting a capacitance generated when the object comes into contact; And MCU for analyzing the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor and transmitting the displacement value or data detected by the detection sensor to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal Including: The detection sensor is disposed on the upper surface of the holder to cover a part of the upper surface of the imaging member to block external light entering the imaging member, An ultra-slim optical joystick in which a cursor on a display screen is moved or an icon or text at a position where the cursor is displayed is selected according to a signal transmitted from the MCU. The method of claim 1, The light source is an ultra-slim light joystick that is an LED emitting infrared light. The method of claim 1, The housing is an ultra-slim light joystick made of optical plastic that only infrared light is transmitted through. The method of claim 1, The housing is an ultra-slim light joystick further comprises an infrared pass layer through which only infrared light passes through the transparent plastic surface. delete delete The method of claim 1, And the MCU transmits only the data of the sensor to the microcomputer of the mobile terminal when the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor is within a preset range so that an icon or text at the position where the cursor is displayed is selected. The method of claim 1, And the MCU transmits only the displacement value of the light receiving sensor to the microcomputer of the portable terminal when the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor is outside a preset range, so that the cursor moves. Light source; A housing illuminated with light emitted from the light source; An imaging member installed inside the housing; A light receiving sensor receiving light formed through the image forming member and calculating the displacement as a displacement value; A holder accommodating the imaging member; A detection sensor installed inside the housing and detecting a capacitance generated when the object comes into contact; And The microcomputer analyzes the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor and uses the displacement value or data detected by the detection sensor as an input signal of a cursor on a display screen. / RTI &gt; The detection sensor is disposed on the upper surface of the holder to cover a part of the upper surface of the imaging member to block external light entering the imaging member, And an ultra-slim optical joystick for moving the cursor or selecting an icon or text at the position where the cursor is displayed according to the signal analyzed by the microcomputer. The method of claim 9, The microcomputer includes an ultra-slim optical joystick that selects an icon or text at the position where the cursor is displayed using only data of the sensor when the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor is within a preset range. The method of claim 9, The microcomputer includes an ultra-slim optical joystick for moving the cursor using only the displacement value of the light receiving sensor when the displacement value calculated by the light receiving sensor is outside a preset range.

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