KR20100068590A

KR20100068590A - Terminal of electronic device

Info

Publication number: KR20100068590A
Application number: KR1020080126995A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 안건준
Original assignee: 크루셜텍 (주)
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2008-12-15
Publication date: 2010-06-24

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a terminal body; An optical joystick mounted on the terminal body and operated by a subject; And provided in the terminal body provides a terminal of the electronic device including a light emitting unit that is turned on by operating the optical joystick.

Wherein the optical joystick; A light source that emits a subject detection light for detecting the subject, a substrate on which an optical sensor is mounted, and is integrally packaged in a molding material and provided on an upper side of the substrate, and reflected on a subject in contact with an upper surface of the optical joystick. And an imaging guide for injecting a subject detection light introduced into the light joystick into the light sensor.

Description

Terminal of Electronic Device

The present invention relates to an optical joystick module and a terminal having the same, and more particularly, to a terminal of an electronic device that allows a user to feel vitality when operating an optical joystick applied to a user interface of a portable terminal such as a mobile phone.

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 recall desired data such as numbers or words. The menu can be selected by typing in a portable electronic device or by pressing a button cursor and a selection button.

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

In recent years, in order to support communication services or Internet services using electronic devices, wireless Internet services such as WIBRO (Wireless Broadband) and wireless mobile communication services have been commercialized. ), Windows operating system such as Windows CE is adopted.

In addition, with the development of communication technology, the portable electronic device provides various additional services to the user, and the GUI-based Windows operating system facilitates the provision of the additional service by the portable electronic device.

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

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 contact the subject (P) such as a finger for the operation of the electronic device, the image sensor 15 is a PCB (not shown) for processing the input optical signal Is provided on).

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

In more detail, in the state where the subject P is not in contact with the upper side of the cover 12, more specifically, the operation surface, the light emitted from the light source 11 passes through the illumination guide. 12 is emitted to the outside of the cover 12 while penetrating.

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 and is reflected, and then passes through the imaging system 14 to the image sensor. Incident at 15, the image of the subject is imaged with an optical signal.

Here, the imaging system 14 may include a plurality of components such as a prism and a lens made of a material such as glass or optical plastic, and condense the light reflected by the subject in a predetermined direction and at the same time to transmit the light to the image sensor. When the subject outside the cover 12 moves, the optical signal reflected by the subject 12 and sensed by the image sensor 15 also changes.

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 optical signal detection and image control scheme by the image sensor 15 is similar to that of an optical mouse mounted in a notebook computer, and thus detailed description thereof is 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.

On the other hand, the inventors of the present invention have developed a terminal of an electronic device having a structure that allows the user to feel liveliness without feeling bored when operating the optical joystick while simultaneously applying an optical joystick that is convenient to operate as a terminal user interface of the electronic device. .

In the conventional optical joystick, the lighting guide and the imaging system 14 need to be manually assembled by the worker one by one in the holder 13 and assembled in the correct position. The lighting guide and the imaging system 14 Parts applied to the optical joystick, such as the size is very small, there is a problem that the assembly is inferior, and the operation of assembling the PCB and the holder on which the image sensor 15 is mounted is also a small size of the components to modularize the optical joystick Since the work process is cumbersome and takes a long time, the present inventors have developed an optical joystick with improved assembly.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is equipped with an optical joystick in the main body of the terminal not only convenient operation of the electronic device, but also when the user operates the terminal using the optical joystick, the user feels lively It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal of an electronic device that can be constructed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal of an electronic device having an optical joystick having a structure in which an imaging system of an optical joystick and an internal component such as a substrate, an optical sensor or a light source are easily assembled.

The present invention to solve the above object, the present invention comprises: a terminal body; An optical joystick mounted on the terminal body and operated by a subject; And a light emitting unit provided in the terminal main body, the light emitting unit being turned on by operating the optical joystick.

The light emitting unit may be coupled to the optical joystick and mounted on the terminal body in a modular state, or may be coupled to the terminal body separately from the optical joystick.

The light emitting unit may include a plurality of lamps; The plurality of lamps are arranged around the light joystick. More preferably, the light joystick may be disposed in a symmetrical structure.

The number of lamps that are turned on among the plurality of lamps may be adjusted according to the displacement value of the subject detection light incident on the optical sensor.

At least a portion of the plurality of lamps may be selectively lit according to a moving direction of a cursor moving on a display screen by manipulation of the subject.

The portable terminal may further include a vibration unit provided in the terminal body and operating together with the light emitting unit so that the portable terminal can operate in a haptic mode.

The optical joystick may further include a cover having a light transmission area through which the subject detection light is transmitted so that the subject detection light emitted from the light source reaches the subject.

More specifically, the cover is a cap-shaped case with an open bottom; The substrate is coupled to the bottom of the cover and the imaging guide is housed inside the case.

And, the optical joystick; The object detection light emitted from the light source guides the object detection light to reach the subject, and may further include an illumination guide packaged together of the imaging guide inside the molding material.

The light source is mounted on the substrate; The illumination guide and the imaging guide are packaged together inside the molding material to form an upper package; The upper package is assembled to be mounted on the upper side of the substrate in which the optical sensor and the light source are integrally packaged.

Unlike the above, the light source is mounted on the substrate; The illumination guide, the imaging guide, the light source, and the optical sensor may be packaged together in the molding member to form an integrated package.

The imaging guide may be packaged in the molding member together with an optical sensor mounted on the substrate.

At least a portion of the subject detection light emitted from the light source may directly reach the light transmission area of the cover. The light source may be electrically connected to the substrate by a flexible substrate to be spaced apart from the substrate.

On the other hand, the molding material preferably has a material capable of blocking external light. The imaging guide may include a green lens.

The light source may be configured to include an infrared light source for emitting a subject detection light belonging to the infrared band.

According to the terminal of the electronic device according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, according to the present invention, when the pointer or the cursor is moved, the optical joystick mounted on the terminal body can be visually and / or tactilely lived without the user's boredom when operating the object such as a finger. In addition, as the light joystick is operated, the light emitting unit is turned on, thereby improving the design of the terminal.

Second, according to the present invention, since visible light does not flow into the imaging guide, malfunction of the optical joystick due to visible light can be prevented.

Third, according to the present invention, since at least some of the illumination guide, the imaging guide, the light sensor, and the light source are packaged and assembled into one, the assembly process may be simplified and workability may be improved.

Fourth, according to the present invention, the lighting guide, the imaging guide, the optical sensor and the light source as a whole packaged integrally with the molding material to assemble the inside of the cover, or the lighting guide and the imaging guide as a molding material to package the light sensor and the light source image Since they are assembled on top of the sensor and then assembled together, the size of the parts to be handled during the assembly operation is increased, thereby preventing assembly failure due to incorrect assembly and preventing damage to the parts.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention can be specifically realized the object of the present invention. In describing the present embodiment, the same designations and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and further description thereof will be omitted.

First, an embodiment of a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

One embodiment of a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention is a mobile phone, which includes a light joystick 60 mounted on a terminal body 51, the terminal body 51, and a light emitting unit provided on the terminal body 51. 52).

The terminal body 51 is provided with a display screen 52, and in the case of a mobile phone, a keypad 54 for inputting numbers, symbols, or letters may be provided. Of course, in another embodiment of the terminal of the electronic device according to the present invention, the terminal of the electronic device such as a remote controller may not have the display screen 52. The optical joystick 60 is operated by a subject, which will be described later.

On the other hand, the light emitting unit 52 is turned on as the light joystick 60 is operated by the subject, and may be turned on only at night or in a dark place depending on the setting mode of the mobile phone, or may be selectively turned on according to the user's setting. It may be. That is, the light emitting unit 52 is operated in conjunction with the optical joystick (60).

Here, the light emitting unit 52 may be mounted on the terminal body 51 in a state in which the light emitting unit 52 is combined with the optical joystick 60 and integrally modularized, and the light emitting unit 52 and the light joystick 60 are Each may be separately coupled to the terminal body 51.

The light emitting unit 52 may be turned on or off according to the displacement value of the subject detected by the optical joystick, that is, the displacement value of the subject detection light, and the displacement value of the subject detection light detected by the optical joystick is The microcomputer 55 is transmitted to the microcomputer 55, and the microcomputer 55 controls the lighting of the light emitting unit 52 according to the displacement value of the subject detection light.

The displacement value of the subject detection light includes displacement data such as a moving direction or a moving speed of the subject, so that the light emitting unit 52 allows the user to recognize the moving direction or the moving speed of the subject.

The light emitting unit 52 may include a plurality of lamps 52a to 52f. In the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps 52a to 52f are disposed around the light joystick. The upper case of the terminal body 51 is formed with a plurality of lighting holes in which the lamps 52a to 52f are installed.

In addition, the plurality of lamps 52a to 52f may be alternately lit, sequentially lit, or all may be lit simultaneously. In the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps 52a to 52f are arranged in a symmetrical structure around the light joystick 60, and more specifically, are arranged in one row on the left and right sides of the light joystick 60. The present invention is not limited thereto, and may be arranged in a variety of other arrangements, such as being spaced apart at regular intervals along the circumference of the optical joystick.

At least some of the lamps 52a to 52f may be selectively turned on according to the moving direction of the subject in contact with the upper surface of the optical joystick 60. For example, the subject may be connected to the image of the optical joystick. Moving upwards in the state of contact with the side lights up the lighting lamps 52a and 52d disposed on the upper left and right rows of the lighting lamps 52a to 52f, and moving to the left, the lighting lamps 52a arranged in the left column. The microcomputer 55 may control the light emitting unit 52 in such a manner that the lamp 52b disposed at the center of the light is disposed at the center.

On the other hand, the number of the lighting lamps of the plurality of lighting lamps (52a to 52f) may be adjusted by the displacement value of the subject detection light, for example, the lighting of the light emitting unit 52 according to the moving speed of the subject The light emitting unit 52 may be controlled by the microcomputer 55 so that the number of lamps varies.

That is, when the subject is moved after contacting the subject with the upper side of the optical joystick, the displacement value of the subject detection light is input to the microcomputer 55 and the cursor is displayed on the display screen according to the displacement value of the subject detection light. (C) or pointer movement is implemented.

When the speed of several levels and the number of lights to be lit at each speed level are set and stored in the microcomputer 55, the subject is brought into contact with the surface of the light joystick 60 for the operation of the light joystick 60. When moving, the moving speed of the subject is calculated according to the displacement value of the subject detection light, and the microcomputer 55 selectively lights the lamps according to the corresponding speed grade by comparing the moving speed of the subject with a preset speed grade. Here, the speed grade is a stepwise division of the displacement value according to the speed of the subject.

For example, when the moving speed of the subject calculated by the displacement value of the subject detection light is less than 1 m / sec, one lamp is turned on as the first grade, and in the case of 1 to 2 m / sec, two lamps are set to the second grade. The lighting of the lighting, and in the case of 2 ~ 4m / sec set to three grades to turn on three lighting, the microcomputer may control the lighting of the light emitting unit.

In other words, when the moving speed of the subject is high, the displacement value of the subject detection light, in particular, the coordinate displacement per unit time increases, and as the coordinate displacement increases, the micom turns on a large number of lamps.

Accordingly, even if the user does not directly check the moving direction or the speed of the cursor C through the display screen 52, the movement of the cursor C can be appropriately known, which means that the display screen is separate from the terminal. In the case of a large-screen remote control such as a TV or a slide provided, it is convenient to use, and the position of a small size cursor may be known through the lighting of the lamps.

On the other hand, the lamps 52a to 52f may emit visible light of different colors, respectively, and roughly control the movement speed of the subject by controlling which color lamps to be turned on rather than the number of lamps to be lit. The moving speed of the subject may be displayed by a combination method of the number of objects and the number of the illumination lamps to be displayed.

On the other hand, the terminal body 51 may be further provided with a vibration unit 56 which is operated in conjunction with the light emitting unit or alone so that the terminal can be operated in a haptics mode.

The vibration unit 56 is controlled by the microcomputer 55 to operate alone or in conjunction with the light emitting unit in conjunction with the operation of the optical joystick 60, the vibration unit 56 when the terminal is set to the haptic mode ) Is operated in conjunction with the optical joystick to vibrate the terminal body (51).

The vibrating unit 56 includes a vibrator or a vibration motor, and the vibrator or the vibrating motor is disposed one at each of the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the optical joystick, and the vibrator located in the moving direction of the subject vibrates. By doing so, together with or separately from the light emitting unit, it is possible to give a user a dynamic feeling of operation, but the arrangement of the vibration difference or the vibration motor is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, an embodiment of the optical joystick will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

A first embodiment of an optical joystick according to the present invention includes a light source 210 for emitting a subject detection light for detecting a subject, an optical sensor 220 for detecting a subject detection light incident after being reflected by the subject, and And an imaging guide 320 for injecting the subject detection light reflected from the subject into the optical sensor 220, and the optical sensor 220 is electrically connected to the substrate 230.

Here, the optical sensor 220 may be provided at a position spaced apart from the substrate 230 by being connected to the substrate 230 and the flexible circuit board, but is mounted on the substrate 230 as in the present embodiment. May be

The imaging guide 320 is packaged integrally inside the molding member 330 to reflect the subject detection light that is reflected on a subject contacting the upper surface of the optical joystick 60 and introduced into the optical joystick. The incident light is incident on the optical sensor 230.

The substrate 230 may form the bottom of the optical joystick 60 as in the present embodiment, wherein the imaging guide 320 is provided above the substrate 230.

In addition to the above configuration, the optical joystick may further comprise a cover 100.

When the light joystick is configured to further include the cover 100, the cover 100 has a light transmission region 111 for transmitting the object detection light emitted from the 210 to the outside of the cover. The upper surface of the optical joystick is formed to contact the subject. The object detection light transmitted upward through the light transmissive region 111 is reflected by reaching and hitting the subject and is re-entered into the cover 100 through the light transmissive region 111 before the imaging guide. The optical sensor 220 is reached through the 320.

The subject is in contact with the upper side of the cover 100, the cover 100 may be made of plastic or glass. In the present embodiment, the cover 100 includes a cover plate 110 in which the subject is in contact with the outer surface, that is, the upper side. The cover plate 110 has the light transmission region 111 described above, and at least some of the upper side surfaces of the cover plate 110 form a subject contact surface for contacting the subject.

In more detail, the object contact surface is an area including an upper surface of the light transmission region 111. When the subject is positioned above the light transmission region 111, the object detection light emitted from the light source 210 is detected. The light transmissive region 111 passes upward and is reflected by the subject and then incident on the imaging guide 320.

The light joystick according to the present invention may further include an illumination guide 310 for guiding the subject detection light so that the subject detection light emitted from the light source reaches the subject.

If the light joystick further comprises the cover 100, the illumination guide 310 is also received inside the cover, in which case the illumination guide 310 is comprised of the light source 210 and the cover, in particular the light. An optical path is formed between the transmission regions 111, and the object detection light emitted from the illumination guide 310 passes through the light transmission region 111.

Of course, when the light joystick does not include the cover 100, the illumination guide 310 contacts the object detection light emitted from the light source 210 with the surface of the light joystick, more specifically, the subject. Guide to the surface of the molding material 330 to be.

The cover 100 may be manufactured in various shapes such as a plate or a cap-shaped case having a shape suitable for a design condition or a design condition, such as a disc or a polygonal plate.

When the cover 100 is manufactured in a cap shape as in the present embodiment, the cover 100 is applied as a housing or a case of an optical joystick that accommodates components such as the imaging guide 320 and the light source 210 therein. It is possible.

In more detail, the cover 100 may further include an edge frame 120 surrounding the circumference of the imaging guide 320. In the present embodiment, the cover 100 has an opening at a bottom thereof. And a cap shape having a hollow formed therein, wherein the imaging guide 320, the optical sensor 220, and the light source 210 are accommodated in the cover 100, so that the cover 100 is a case of an optical joystick. Or as a housing. When the light joystick according to the present invention further includes the illumination guide 310, the illumination guide 310 is also provided inside the edge frame 120.

The cover plate 110 and the rim frame 120 may be integrally injection molded or double injection, and may be separately manufactured and then assembled, and the cover plate forms an upper side of the cover 100. The border frame 120 forms the perimeter of the cover.

The type of the light source 210 is not particularly limited, but may include an infrared source that emits object detection light belonging to the infrared band as in the present embodiment, and at least a part of the cover plate 110, in particular, The light transmitting region 111 transmits infrared light emitted from the light source 210. The infrared source includes an infrared LED and the like.

In this case, the cover 100 preferably functions as an infrared band pass filter for transmitting only light belonging to the infrared band. More specifically, the cover plate 110 emits infrared rays from the light source 210. It is preferable to transmit the light, and to block the visible light band from flowing into the cover 100. The reason is that when the light band other than the infrared ray is introduced into the cover 100 and enters the optical sensor 220, the operation performance of the optical joystick is reduced.

To this end, the cover plate 110 may be configured to include an infrared band pass filter 113 to block the transmission of light rays other than the infrared band in the vertical direction, although not shown, the infrared band pass filter 113 may be configured in such a manner that a material acting as an infrared band pass filter is coated on the bottom surface of the cover plate 110 or a film having the same function is attached.

The infrared band pass filter 113 blocks or attenuates external light of a predetermined band and substantially transmits only an infrared wavelength band.

In more detail, the infrared band pass filter 113 has a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material in a material having high transmittance in the infrared band such as ZnS, ZnSe, Ge, SiO ₂ , CaF _2, etc. on the inner surface of the base 121. It may be formed as a coating layer laminated alternately applied.

The infrared band pass filter 113 may include a coating layer in which a high refractive material such as TiO ₂ and SiO ₂ or a TiO ₅ and SiO ₂ and a low refractive material are laminated. The TiO ₂ and TiO ₅ may be formed of a high refractive material. And SiO ₂ is a low refractive material.

The coating of the infrared pass material may be formed of a multilayer thin film layer having a multilayer thin film form by a vacuum deposition method using a vacuum deposition apparatus or the like.

Of course, the cover 100 may have an infrared optical plastic material that transmits only light rays belonging to the infrared band.

In addition, the cover 100 is a light blocking area (not shown) to block the light transmission region 111 through which light belonging to the infrared band and the infrared band and visible light band are introduced into the cover 100. It may be partitioned into.

The light blocking area may be formed by coating a light blocking material on one side of the cover plate or attaching a light blocking film or a tape to one side of the cover plate in detail. A shielding tape 112 is attached to the bottom surface of the substrate, in particular, the remaining portions except the light transmitting region, to block light such as visible light and infrared light. In addition, the light transmission region 111 preferably transmits only light belonging to the infrared band. Of course, the entire cover plate may be a light transmitting area.

In addition, the cover plate 110 may be formed by double-injecting the light transmitting region 111 and the light blocking region using different materials.

The cover plate 110 and the edge frame 120 may be made of a transparent material, for example, a transparent member, but is not limited thereto. Only the cover plate 110 may be manufactured of a transparent material. The edge frame 120 may be made of an opaque member capable of blocking light. Of course, only the portion of the cover plate 110 through which the infrared rays pass, that is, the light transmission region 111 may be made of a transparent member. In this case, the one side surface of the light transmission region, in particular the bottom surface, the above-described infrared band pass The filter is preferably coated.

When the cover 100 is made of a transparent member as a whole, the external light blocking for blocking external light such as visible light and infrared light on the outer circumferential surface of the cover 100, more specifically, the edge frame 120 as a whole It is preferable that a part (not shown) is provided. The external light shielding unit (not shown) may be configured in various ways such as coating a light shielding material on the circumferential surface of the edge frame 120 or attaching a light shielding film of a thin film.

When the cover plate 110 is formed of a transparent member, the cover plate may further include the above-described infrared band pass filter 113, and may form a light blocking area with the shielding tape 112.

The light source 210 is installed at a predetermined position inside the cover 100 in consideration of the position of the light transmission region 111, the emission direction of the subject detection light, the structure of the cover, and the like.

And the surface of the cover 100, in particular the outer surface of the cover plate 110 is preferably coated to prevent scratches (Scratch), for example, a UV coating layer is provided on the surface of the cover 100 as an example May be

On the other hand, the imaging guide 320 is packaged integrally inside the molding member 330 as described above, in this embodiment, the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 is the molding material. 330 is integrally packaged and provided inside the optical joystick in a modular state, and the light source 210 may be provided at various positions inside the cover.

In this embodiment, the light source 210 is packaged integrally with the optical sensor 220, the optical sensor 220 is electrically connected to the substrate 230 in a detachable or integrally coupled state, this embodiment In the example, the light source 210 is mounted on the substrate 230 together with the optical sensor 220 and packaged on the substrate 230 integrally with the optical sensor 220 to partially cover the optical joystick. Achieve.

Here, the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 may be modularized as an integrated package by integrally packaging the whole of the molding material together with the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220, or the illumination guide. The upper package in which the 310 and the imaging guide 320 are integrally packaged by the molding material is seated on the lower package in which the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are integrally packaged on the substrate. The upper package and the lower package may be assembled.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the imaging guide 320 and the upper package 300 having the illumination guide 310 and the light source mounted on the substrate are integrally packaged by the illumination guide 310 and the molding material 330. An example of fabricating the lower package 200 having the optical sensor 220 packaged integrally with the light source 210 and then assembling them with each other will be described.

The optical sensor 220 and the light source 210 are mounted on a circuit board, for example, a PCB 230 through a process such as surface mount technology such as Surface Mount Technology (SMT).

In addition, the optical sensor 220 and the light source 210 may be viewed as being integrally packaged by being mounted on the substrate, and the optical sensor 220 and the light source 210 mounted on the substrate as in the present embodiment may be considered. There is a way to be integrally packaged inside the molding material by the molding material 240, the molding material 240, 330 is an epoxy molding compound (EMC) and the like.

In more detail, the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are mounted on the substrate 230 at a position spaced apart from each other, and then the light source 210 and the optical sensor are formed by the molding material 240. By applying and solidifying 220, these two configurations are packaged integrally. That is, after the mold (frame) of a predetermined shape is in close contact with the substrate 230 and the liquid EMC is filled in the mold (not shown) and the EMC is hardened, the lower package according to the present embodiment ( 200) is formed.

For convenience of description, the molding member 240 for integrally packaging the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 is called a first molding member, and the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are integrally packaged. The molding material 330 to be referred to as a second molding material.

As the first molding member 230, a transparent or transparent molding material, for example, Clear EMC, may be applied. In this case, a light blocking film for blocking light may be disposed between the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220. 250 is preferably provided, but is not limited to the transparent material. Accordingly, the infrared light emitted from the light source 210 is prevented from directly entering the optical sensor 220.

The light blocking layer 250 is a mask in which black EMC, which does not transmit light, or a shielding tape or film, which does not transmit light, or a hole into which the light source 210 and the light sensor 220 are fitted. It may be configured in a variety of ways.

The optical sensor 220 detects incident light and continuously photographs an image of a subject, and the change of the captured image screen is calculated as a displacement value. The optical sensor 220 has an image capturing area including a plurality of pixels, and as the light reflected from the object is incident on the image capturing area, the image of the object is captured.

Apart from the lower package 200, the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are formed by the second molding material 330 to correspond to the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220, respectively. The upper package 300 is formed inside the two molding materials.

In more detail, when the upper package 300 is seated on the lower package 200, the incidence side of the illumination guide 310 is positioned above the light source 210, and thus, of the imaging guide 320. The illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are aligned vertically or inclined so that the emission side is positioned above the optical sensor 220, and then integrally packaged using the molding material 330.

In the present embodiment, the illumination guide 310 is configured to include a waveguide for guiding light by total reflection, but is not limited thereto. The light source 210 may be packaged in the second molding member 330. In the case where the object detection light of the upper surface of the upper package 300, in particular, the cover 100 is included, an optical member capable of guiding the light transmitting region 111 of the cover plate is sufficient. The illumination guide 310 is preferably coated with a high reflectance coating on the wall surface (inner wall surface and / or outer wall surface) to guide the object detection light by total reflection.

The direction in which the illumination guide 310 is disposed may be disposed to be perpendicular to the substrate 230 or to be inclined at a predetermined angle. However, the arrangement state of the illumination guide 310 is preferably configured to be inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction with respect to the substrate.

In addition, the imaging guide 320 is for imaging the light reflected from the subject after being emitted from the light source 210 on the optical sensor 220, and includes a green lens, a convex lens, a high refractive lens, and the like. Various lenses for imaging light may be applied. In the present exemplary embodiment, the imaging guide 320 includes the green lens to adjust an image forming position according to a pitch, but an example of the imaging guide 320 is not limited.

The second molding material 330 may have the same material as the first molding material 240, and in the present embodiment, the second molding material 330 may have a material capable of blocking external light. An example of the second molding material 330 capable of blocking external light may include a black EMC, and the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 may be disposed in a pre-processed mold. The upper package 300 is formed by filling and solidifying the second molding material 330.

The illumination guide 310 may be parallel to or in parallel with the imaging guide 320, but in this case, only a part of the light emitted from the illumination guide 310 and reflected by the subject is the imaging guide 320. Since the amount of light incident on the optical sensor 220 is reduced, the performance of the optical joystick is reduced.

In other words, when both members are parallel to each other, such as when the illumination guide 310 is disposed vertically in the vertical direction and the imaging guide 320 is disposed vertically in the vertical direction, only a part of the light reflected by the subject is reflected. The amount of light flowing into the imaging guide 320 or flowing into the imaging guide may be zero (0).

In order to compensate for this problem, the intensity of the light source may be increased, but there is a problem in that power consumption is increased and cost is high. Therefore, the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 may be disposed to be closer to each other toward the top. For example, an extension line, for example, an axis line, of the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 may be disposed to cross each other. As a specific example, when the imaging guide 320 is vertically disposed in the vertical direction, the illumination guide 310 is inclined toward the imaging guide, that is, when the obliquely disposed, the most of the light emitted from the illumination guide 310. After being reflected by the subject, the light may enter the imaging guide 320.

The exit side of the illumination guide 310 and the incident side of the imaging guide 320 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other or may be arranged to contact each other. In addition, both the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 may be disposed to be inclined inclined.

As described above, when the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are integrally packaged by the second molding material 330, a process of smoothly treating the surface of the upper package 300, in particular, the upper surface, may be performed. For example, a polishing process may be performed.

When the lower package 200 and the upper package 300 are completed, the upper package 300 is stacked on the upper side of the lower package 200. The lower package 200 and the upper package 300 may be combined with each other by forming protrusions and grooves 241 and 331 on the lower package 200 or the upper package 300, and for double-sided tape or adhesive bonding. These can be combined in various ways, such as by fixing them together using a resin or the like.

As such, the lower package 200 may be coupled to the upper package 300 to be integrally modularized so that the subject may contact the surface of the upper package to manipulate the light joystick.

Of course, the upper and lower packages may be assembled inside the cover 100 so that the substrate forms the bottom of the cover 100 and the subject is brought into contact with the upper surface of the cover 100 to operate the optical joystick. It may be.

In more detail, when the subject comes into contact with the cover 100, the light emitted from the light source 210 passes through the light guide 310 and passes through the light transmission region 111, and then the outside of the cover. Reach the subject.

In addition, the object detection light reflected by hitting the subject passes through the cover 100 and enters the inside of the cover 100, and then enters the optical sensor 220 through the imaging guide 320.

The optical sensor 220 captures the incident light and compares the captured image screen in real time to calculate a displacement value resulting in a difference in the image screen, and the calculated displacement value is a microcomputer (not shown) of the electronic device terminal. Is transmitted, and the movement of the cursor is displayed on the display screen 52 by the micom.

On the other hand, although not shown, when the light source 210 emits infrared rays as described above, the imaging guide 320 may be further provided with an infrared bandpass filter for blocking the inflow of light outside the infrared wavelength band. .

The infrared band pass filter may be provided at the entrance side and / or the exit side of the imaging guide 320, and may be configured in various ways such as a film, a tape, or an infrared band pass material.

As described above, when the optical joystick according to the present invention does not include the cover, an upper surface of the upper package 300 may form a subject contact surface such that the above-described subject may directly contact the upper package. A coating layer (not shown) may be integrally formed on the upper side of the upper package 300 so that the subject may contact the upper side of the coating layer, wherein the coating layer is an infrared band pass material that transmits only light belonging to the infrared band. The coated layer is good.

9 illustrates a process of assembling the optical joystick of the present invention manufactured by the upper package 300 and the lower package 200, respectively.

First, the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are respectively installed on the substrate 230 by a SMT process at a predetermined distance from each other, and the substrate 230 on which the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are mounted. ) To install the mold and inject the liquid first molding material 240 into the mold to manufacture the lower package 200.

In addition, the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are disposed at a predetermined position according to design conditions, and then integrated with the second molding material 330 to manufacture the upper package 300. Here, the protrusion 331 and the groove 241 is formed on the surface to which they are bonded so that the upper package 300 and the lower package 200 can be accurately coupled.

The manufacturing order of the upper package 300 and the lower package 200 does not matter, and the upper package may be manufactured first or may be manufactured at the same time. After the upper package 300 and the lower package 200 are coupled to each other, the upper package and the lower package are assembled into the cover 100. Of course, as described above, the cover 100 may be removed and the subject may directly contact the upper surface of the upper package 300.

Examples of the optical joystick and the terminal of the electronic device having the same configuration as described above are various, such as a mobile phone or PDA, a remote control or a navigation, and in particular, an electronic device having a display screen, such as an electronic device requiring a use of a pointer, for example, a digital camera. It is also applicable to MP3.

In addition, the contents described in the first embodiment of the optical joystick according to the present invention may be equally applied to each of the other embodiments except for portions that conflict with or are different from those described in the other embodiments described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same configuration. Therefore, other embodiments of the optical joystick to be described later may not have the cover 100.

10, as in the second embodiment of the optical joystick according to the present invention, the illumination guide 310a for guiding the object detection light emitted from the light source 210 to the inner side of the cover is the exit side In contact with the incidence side of the imaging guide 320 may be disposed to be inclined in a form supported by the imaging guide 320.

In this case, since the exit side of the illumination guide 310a and the incident side of the imaging guide 320 are adjacent to each other, the incident rate of the object detection light reflected from the subject to the imaging guide 320 may be improved.

On the other hand, part of the contents of the invention described in the above-described first embodiment except for the arrangement structure of the illumination guide 310a can be applied to the second embodiment of the present invention as a whole, and the repeated description thereof is omitted. The same reference numerals are used for the same configuration. In addition, the content described in the second embodiment may be equally applicable to other embodiments described below, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted.

11, the upper surface of the lower package 200a in which the optical sensor 220 and the light source 210 are integrated by the first molding member 240, and more specifically, the light source 210 and the light source 210. At least one installation grooves 241 and 242 for installing the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are formed on the upper side of the optical sensor 220, and the illumination guides are installed in the installation grooves 241 and 242. Insert and align the incidence side of the 310 and the outgoing side of the imaging guide 320, install a mold for forming the upper package 300a, and fill the mold with the second molding material 330 to form the upper package. 330a may be formed.

The installation grooves 241 and 242 may be formed by removing an upper side of the light source 210 and an upper side of the light sensor 220 in a state where the lower package 200a is formed by the first molding material 240. In the packaging process by the first molding member 240, the forming member for forming the installation groove on the upper side of the light source 210 and the upper side of the optical sensor 220, and the molding after the lower package is completed When the member is removed, the installation grooves 241 and 242 are formed.

Of course, as in the above-described second embodiment, the illumination guide 310 may be disposed to be inclined in such a manner that its exit side is in contact with the incidence side of the imaging guide 320 and is supported by the imaging guide 320. It may be.

Next, referring to FIG. 12, the optical joystick according to the present invention may adjust the height (or thickness) of the upper package 300b and the lower package from the substrate 230 to the upper surface of the upper package 300b. It may be configured to further include at least one spacer (500) provided between (200b).

The upper package 300 refers to the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 is integrally packaged, the lower package 200 is the light sensor 220 and the light source 210 is the substrate ( 230, packaged in one piece.

The optical joystick may be manufactured to be thin in accordance with the trend of slimming of portable electronic devices. However, when the optical joystick has to have a predetermined height or more from the substrate 230 to the upper surface of the upper package 300b, the upper package 300b may be used. And a spacer 500 such as a gasket of the lower package 200b may be placed, and the spacer 500 has a through hole penetrated in the vertical direction for installation of the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide. It is preferable to be made of a light-shielding material that blocks light such as light rays and infrared rays.

Of course, as in the above-described second embodiment, the illumination guide 310 may be disposed to be inclined in such a manner that its exit side is in contact with the incident side of the imaging guide 320 and is supported by the imaging guide 320. In addition, the light source is preferably configured to include an infrared source such as the above-described infrared LED to reduce visual fatigue.

As described above, the upper package 300, 300a, 300b and the lower package 200, 200a, 200b may be separately manufactured and then assembled, but as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the illumination guide 310 is illustrated. ), The imaging guide 320, the optical sensor 220, and the light source 210 may be integrated into the integrated package 600 by the molding material 610.

In more detail, the light source 210 and the light sensor 220 are mounted on the substrate 230, and the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide correspond to the light source 210 and the light sensor 220. After the 320 is placed, all of them are integrally packaged using the molding material 610.

In other words, after the light source 210 and the light sensor 220 are mounted on the substrate 230 through a process such as SMT, the light guide 310 may correspond to the light source 210 and the light sensor 220. ) And the imaging guide 320, and a mold having a predetermined shape, for example, a rectangular frame shape, is disposed on the substrate and filled with the liquid EMC to solidify the mold. Is formed. The molding material 610 may be made of a material capable of blocking external light, for example, the above-described black EMC.

Of course, as in the above-described second embodiment, the illumination guide 310 may be disposed to be inclined in such a manner that its exit side is in contact with the incident side of the imaging guide 320 and is supported by the imaging guide 320. have.

Next, referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a mask is stacked on the substrate 230 in which the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are mounted and integrated, and the mask 260. Has insertion holes 261 and 262 vertically penetrated such that the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are inserted, and the mask 260 is a light blocking material, for example, a light blocking plastic, glass, or a metal plate. The light emitted from the light source 210 may be prevented from entering the optical sensor 220.

In addition, when the mask 260 is stacked on the substrate 230 in which the light source 210 and the optical sensor 220 are integrated, the lower package 200c is formed. The illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 are integrally packaged by the second molding material 330 to be seated on the upper side of the mask 260 and then coupled with the cover 100. The optical joystick is thereby assembled. Of course, as described above, the cover 100 may be deleted.

The infrared band pass filter 113 may not be provided on the cover 100 but may be provided on an upper surface of the integrated package 600 or the upper package 300, 300a, 300b, or 300c.

Next, the seventh to ninth embodiments of the optical joystick according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19.

Referring to FIG. 17, the optical joystick according to the seventh embodiment includes the cover 100, the substrate 230, the light source 210a, the optical sensor 220, and the molding material described in the first embodiment. It may be configured to include the imaging guide 320 is integrally packaged with the optical sensor 220 by 610a. That is, the imaging guide 320 is packaged together with the optical sensor 200 in the molding material 610a.

The light source 210a and the optical sensor 220 are installed on the substrate 230, and the imaging guide 320 is positioned above the optical sensor 220. 220 is applied to the outside of the imaging guide 320 and the optical sensor-imaging guide integrated package 600a.

Here, the molding material 610a may have a material capable of blocking external light. The molding material 610a may be formed using a molding material made of a material capable of blocking light, such as black EMC, and the like. The sensor-imaging guide integrated package 600a and the light source are received inside the cover 100, and the substrate forms the bottom of the light joystick. The light source may include an infrared source. Of course, the object may directly contact the upper surface of the optical sensor-imaging guide integrated package 600a without being assembled with the cover.

18 and 19, the optical sensor (not shown) by the cover 100, the substrate 230, the light source 210b, the optical sensor 220 and the molding material 610a described in the first embodiment described above. An eighth and a ninth embodiment of an optical joystick configured to include the imaging guide 320 packaged integrally with 220 is shown.

In other words, the imaging guide 320 is packaged together with the optical sensor 200 in the molding member 610a to form an optical sensor-imaging guide integrated package 600a, and the light source includes an infrared source. It may be configured. In addition, in the eighth and ninth embodiments of the optical joystick, the substrate 230 and the light source 210b emitting the object detection light are electrically connected to each other by the flexible substrate 231.

When the light source 210b and the substrate 230 are connected to each other by the flexible substrate 231 as described above, the degree of freedom of installation of the light source 210b is improved, so that the optimum position of the optical joystick is designed, for example, The light source 210b may be provided at an optimal position in consideration of a relationship with a component (such as a structure or position of an imaging guide and / or a structure of a cover).

In the optical joystick according to the eighth and ninth embodiments, the light source 210b is disposed inside the cover 100 in a state spaced apart from the substrate, and more specifically, the cover 100. Is provided at one side of the inside, and is connected to the flexible substrate 231 to emit the subject detection light toward the light transmission region 111.

Here, the light source 210b of the optical joystick according to the eighth embodiment is provided at one side of the optical sensor-imaging guide integrated package, and more specifically, is disposed adjacent to the lower side of the cover plate 110. The light source 210b may be mounted on and supported by the molding material 610a.

The light source 210b of the optical joystick according to the ninth embodiment is connected to the flexible substrate 231 and provided on the inner wall of the cover 100, and is provided on the upper side of the imaging guide 320. The subject detection light is emitted toward the light transmission region 111.

In the seventh to ninth embodiments of the optical joystick, the illumination guide described in the above embodiments is not provided, and the subject illumination light emitted from the light source 210b, for example, the infrared light, is a mirror or a reflector. Alternatively, the light transmitting region 111 penetrates upward without hitting an illumination guide such as a waveguide and hits the subject.

Although not shown, the seventh to ninth embodiments of the light joystick may further include a separate lighting guide, which may be installed in consideration of the installation position of the light source or the intensity of the light source. Can be considered.

However, when the subject detection light emitted from the light sources 210a and 210b is emitted directly to the inner surface of the cover, in particular the light transmission area, without directly passing through the illumination guide, the manufacturing / installation cost of the illumination guide may be reduced. Can be.

6 to 9, the operation of the optical joystick key input device having the optical joystick according to the first embodiment will be described below.

The subject detection light emitted from the light source 210 passes through the light transmission region of the cover 100 through the illumination guide 310 and is radiated upward.

In addition, when an object such as a finger contacts the upper side surface of the cover 100 (the upper side surface of the upper package when the cover is not present), the cover 100 is moved to the outside of the cover 100 through the light transmission region 111. The emitted object detection light hits an object outside the cover 100 and is reflected to the imaging guide 320, and the imaging guide transmits the light reflected by the subject to the optical sensor 220.

When the subject detection light is incident on the optical sensor 220 as described above, the microcomputer 55 provided in the main body of the terminal according to the incident light of the optical sensor 220 that changes with time, that is, the displacement value of the subject detection light. The movement of a cursor or a pointer is implemented on the display screen 52.

In addition, the microcomputer 55 controls the power supply to the light emitting unit 52 and / or the vibration unit 56 to be turned on among the lamps according to the displacement value of the subject detection light due to the movement of the subject. Determine the number of lights or specify the lights to be lit, and controls the operation of the vibration unit 56 gives a user a lively feeling.

On the other hand, when the subject detection light emitted from the light source 210 is infrared light the cover (so that the light flowing into the optical sensor 220 through the illumination guide 310 and the imaging guide 320 is limited to the infrared band ( 100 and the infrared band described in at least one of the imaging guide 320, the upper package 300, 300a, 300b, 300c, the integrated package 600, and the optical sensor- imaging guide integrated package 600a. Infrared band pass filters, such as the pass filter 113, are preferably provided.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, and the fact that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms in addition to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope thereof has ordinary skill in the art. It is obvious to them.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and thus, the present invention is not limited to the above description and may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1 is a perspective view showing a terminal of a conventional electronic device.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical joystick mounted in a conventional terminal.

3 is a perspective view showing a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

4 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the terminal shown in FIG.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention.

6 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the optical joystick for the optical joystick key input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the light joystick illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view and an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a finger as a subject contacts a light joystick illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a process schematic diagram schematically showing a process of manufacturing a first embodiment of the optical joystick shown in FIG. 6.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

11 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

12 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

13 is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a process schematic diagram schematically showing a process of manufacturing the optical joystick shown in FIG. 13.

15 is a cross-sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a process schematic diagram schematically showing a process of manufacturing the optical joystick shown in FIG. 15.

17 is a cross-sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

18 is a cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

19 is a cross-sectional view showing a ninth embodiment of an optical joystick for a terminal of an electronic device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

51: terminal body 52: light emitting unit

53: display screen 55: micom

56: vibration unit 60: optical joystick

100: cover 110: cover plate

120: border frame 200: lower package

210: light source 220: light sensor

230: substrate 240: first molding material

250: light blocking film 300: upper package

310: lighting guide 320: imaging guide

330: second molding material 600, 600a: integral package

Claims

Terminal body;

An optical joystick mounted on the terminal body and operated by a subject; And

A terminal of an electronic device provided in the main body of the terminal and including a light emitting unit to be turned on by operating the optical joystick;

The optical joystick;

A light source for emitting a subject detection light for detecting the subject;

A substrate on which an optical sensor is mounted, and

An imaging guide packaged integrally inside the molding material and provided on an upper side of the substrate. The imaging guide reflects a subject in contact with the upper surface of the optical joystick and enters the object detection light introduced into the optical joystick into the optical sensor. Terminal of the electronic device is configured to include.

The method of claim 1,

The light emitting unit is coupled to the optical joystick terminal of the electronic device mounted on the terminal body in a modular state.

The light emitting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit comprises a plurality of lamps; And the plurality of lamps are disposed around the optical joystick.

The method of claim 3,

The number of lamps that are turned on among the plurality of lamps are adjusted according to the displacement value by the object detection light incident on the optical sensor.

The method of claim 3,

The plurality of lights, the terminal of the electronic device is selectively lit at least in part in accordance with the movement direction of the cursor moving on the display screen by the operation of the subject.

The method of claim 1,

And a vibration unit which is provided in the terminal body and operates together with the light emitting unit so that the portable terminal can be operated in a haptic mode.

The method of claim 1,

The optical joystick further comprises a cover having a light transmission area for transmitting the subject detection light so that the subject detection light emitted from the light source reaches the subject.

The method of claim 7, wherein

The cover is a cap-shaped case with an open bottom; The substrate is coupled to the bottom of the cover and the imaging guide terminal of the electronic device is accommodated inside the case.

The method of claim 1,

The optical joystick; And guide the subject detection light to the subject detection light emitted from the light source to reach the subject, and further comprising an illumination guide packaged together with the imaging guide inside the molding material.

10. The method of claim 9,

The light source is mounted on the substrate; The illumination guide and the imaging guide are packaged together inside the molding material to form an upper package; The upper package is a terminal of the electronic device which is mounted on the upper side of the substrate in which the optical sensor and the light source are integrally packaged.

10. The method of claim 9,

The light source is mounted on the substrate; And the illumination guide, the imaging guide, the light source, and the optical sensor are packaged together in the molding material to form an integrated package.

The method of claim 1,

The imaging guide is a terminal of the electronic device packaged in the molding material together with the optical sensor mounted on the substrate.

The method of claim 12,

The light source may be electrically connected to the substrate by a flexible substrate and disposed to be spaced apart from the substrate.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

The molding material terminal of the electronic device having a material capable of blocking external light.

The terminal of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the imaging guide comprises a green lens.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

The light source is a terminal of an electronic device that comprises an infrared source for emitting a subject detection light belonging to the infrared band.