TWI387732B - Ball-rolling type orientation sensor - Google Patents

Description

Ball bearing sensor

The present invention relates to a sensor, and more particularly to a ball type position sensor.

With the popularity of handheld electronic devices such as digital cameras or camera-enabled mobile phones, viewing photos on them has become the norm. Therefore, a photo rotation function that can automatically rotate the display direction of the photo with the rotation of the handheld electronic device gradually appears on the handheld electronic device.

Referring to Fig. 1, a tilt sensor 10 disclosed in the Republic of China Patent Application No. 95142815 can be installed in the handheld electronic device to sense its rotation and output a corresponding signal to change the display direction of the photo. As shown, the tilt sensor 10 includes a housing 11 defining a V-shaped channel 110, a light-emitting element 12 for emitting light into the V-shaped channel 110, and two for receiving the V-shaped slot. The light receiving element 13 of the light in the track 110 and the slider 14 slidably disposed in the V-shaped channel 110. The tilting sensor 10 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the direction of gravity, and the slider 14 is slidable from a lower central position to a top position on the left and right sides of the V-shaped channel 110.

When the slider 14 is at the central position, the slider 14 can block the light-emitting element 12, so that the light-emitting element 12 cannot emit light into the V-shaped channel 110. At this time, the light-receiving elements 13 cannot sense any Light. When the slider 14 is located at the top position of the left or right side of the V-shaped channel 110, the slider 14 can block one of the light-receiving elements 13 from receiving light in the V-shaped channel 110, but the other The light receiving element 13 can receive light without being affected. Thereby, the tilt sensor 10 can output a corresponding signal to correspondingly control the display direction of the photo.

However, since the slider 14 can only move back and forth between the center position and the top position of the left side or the right side, it means that the tilt sensor 10 can only output three kinds of signals correspondingly, which is limited in application. For example, the tilt sensor 10 can only change the display direction of the photo back and forth between a preset position, a left-handed 90 degree, and a right-handed 90 degree, but cannot dynamically follow the handheld electronic The device constantly changes the tilt angle and continuously changes the display orientation of the photo.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball-type azimuth sensor that continuously changes the electrical signal it outputs in accordance with a constantly changing tilt or angle of rotation to provide more variation in the application.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a ball type orientation sensor comprising a housing, a light emitting element, two light detecting elements, and a ball. The housing is formed with an annular passage, and a first opening communicating with the passage and two second openings respectively located at two sides of the first opening. The illuminating element is located at the first opening and emits light into the channel via the first opening. The light detecting elements are respectively located at the second openings and the intensity of the light in the channel is detected via the second openings. The ball is rotatably disposed correspondingly in the channel, whereby the ball can roll in the direction of gravity when the ball-type azimuth sensor is tilted to partially reflect the light emitted by the illuminating element to one of the inspections And the light detecting elements respectively detect a light having a specific intensity and respectively output an electrical signal having a specific intensity.

The technical content and detailed description of the present invention are described as follows:

Referring to the second and third figures, a ball type position sensor according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ball-type azimuth sensor mainly comprises a casing 20, a circuit board 23, a light-emitting element 24, two light-detecting elements 25, and a ball 26.

The housing 20 includes a first housing portion 21 and a second housing portion 22. The first housing portion 21 is formed with an annular extending passage 210 in the second housing portion 22. In the embodiment, the passage 210 is a circular ring as an example, and the actual implementation is not limited thereto. The first housing portion 21 has a plane 211 on one side thereof that is substantially parallel to the direction in which the passage 210 extends. A first opening 212 and two second openings 213 are formed in the plane 211 to communicate with the channel 210. The first opening 212 and the second opening 213 are arranged along the extending direction of the channel 210 , and the second openings 213 are respectively located at two sides of the first opening 212 .

Preferably, the connection of the second openings 213 passes through the geometric center of the annular channel 210. Moreover, the distance from the first opening 212 to each of the second openings 213 is equal.

In addition, the second housing portion 22 has an annular protrusion 221 for correspondingly fitting into an annular fitting groove 215 of the first housing portion 21, thereby fixing the second housing portion 22 to the second housing portion 22 The first housing portion 21 is on the first housing portion 21.

The circuit board 23 is disposed on the plane 211 of the first housing portion 21. The circuit board 23 can be a printed circuit board or a flexible circuit board. Moreover, the circuit board 23 is formed with a plurality of conductive terminals 231 on a plane opposite to the first housing portion 21. The conductive terminals 231 extend to the front of the circuit board 23 via the surface or the interior of the circuit board 23 for electrically connecting with the light-emitting element 24 and the light-detecting elements 25 to provide the light-emitting elements 24 and the like. The optical element 25 is powered or received as a signal for receiving the light detecting element 25.

The light-emitting element 24 is disposed on the circuit board 23 and located at the first opening 212, and emits light into the channel 210 via the first opening 212. In this embodiment, the light-emitting element 24 is a light emitting diode, which is not limited in practice.

The light detecting elements 25 are disposed on the circuit board 23 and located at the second openings 213, and the intensity of the light in the channel 210 is detected through the second openings 213, respectively. In the present embodiment, the photodetecting elements 25 are photo transistors, which are not limited in practice.

The balls 26 are rollably disposed within the passage 210. Preferably, a highly reflective coating is formed on the surface of the ball 26.

In addition, in order to prevent the ball 26 from falling into the first opening 212 and the second opening 213 during the movement, the ball-type azimuth sensor of the embodiment further includes the first opening. A light transmissive sheet 27 between the 212 and the channel 210, and two light transmissive sheets 28 disposed between the second opening 213 and the channel 210.

The fourth to tenth views respectively illustrate several different situations in the actual operation of the ball-type azimuth sensor. First, referring to the fourth figure, it is assumed that the direction of gravity is toward the lower side of the drawing, and the ball 26 is naturally located below the passage 210, that is, the position of the ball 26 is the smallest. At this time, the ball 26 can reflect the light emitted by the light-emitting element 24 to the left and right light-detecting elements 25 at the same time. At this time, the light-detecting elements 25 can respectively output a signal, that is, the ball. The first type of electrical signal combination of the orientation sensor output.

Referring to the fifth figure, the ball-type azimuth sensor is rotated clockwise relative to the fourth figure, and the ball 26 naturally rolls below the channel 210. At this time, the ball 26 is away from the left side light detecting element 25 and close to the right side light detecting element 25, and the light emitted by the light emitting element 24 cannot be reflected by the ball 26 to the left side light detecting element 25, but can be reflected by the ball 26 to the right side. Light detecting element 25. Further, compared with the fourth figure, since the ball 26 of the fifth figure is far from the light-emitting element 24, the amount of light reflected by the ball 26 to the right-side light detecting element 25 is remarkably small. At this time, the light detecting elements 25 can also output a single electrical signal, which is the second electrical signal combination output by the ball type azimuth sensor.

Referring to the sixth figure, the ball-type azimuth sensor is rotated clockwise relative to the fifth figure, and the ball 26 also naturally rolls below the channel 210. At this time, the ball 26 is close to the lower detecting element 25, and the light emitted from the light-emitting element 24 cannot be reflected by the ball 26 to the upper detecting element 25, and can be reflected only by the ball 26 to the lower detecting element 25. Compared with the state of the fifth figure, since the ball 26 of the sixth figure is further away from the light-emitting element 24, the amount of light reflected by the ball 26 to the right-side light detecting element 25 is smaller. At this time, the light detecting elements 25 can respectively output a single electrical signal, which is the third type of electrical signal output of the ball type azimuth sensor.

By analogy, the ball-type azimuth sensor can also emit a plurality of different combinations of electrical signals in different situations in the seventh to the tenth. Since the light intensity detected by each of the light detecting elements 25 is negatively correlated with the distance of the balls 26 from the light emitting elements 24, and can be continuously changed according to the length of the distance, each of the light detecting elements 25 can be made. The output of the electrical signal changes with an effect similar to the analogy. Therefore, the ball type azimuth sensor of the present invention is not limited in application, for example, when the tilt or rotation angle of the hand-held electronic device is dynamically changed, the photo can be synchronized to perform a plurality of different display direction changes. .

As shown in FIG. 11 , a ball type azimuth sensor according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention has a structure substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment, except that the second preferred embodiment The ball-type azimuth sensor arranges the light-emitting element 24 and the light-detecting elements 25 on opposite sides of the casing 20, respectively.

The light detecting elements 25 are still disposed on the circuit board 23 on one side of the first casing portion 21 of the casing 20. However, the light-emitting element 24 is disposed on another circuit board 29 disposed on the other side of the casing 20. Moreover, the first opening 212 is also formed on the second housing portion 22 for the light emitting element 24 to emit light into the channel 210 via the first opening 212.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the present invention remain within the scope of the present invention.

20‧‧‧shell

21‧‧‧First housing part

210‧‧‧ channel

211‧‧‧ plane

212‧‧‧First opening

213‧‧‧Second opening

215‧‧‧Ring inlay

22‧‧‧Second housing part

221‧‧‧ annular protrusion

23‧‧‧ Circuit board

231‧‧‧Electrical terminals

24‧‧‧Lighting elements

25‧‧‧Lighting elements

26‧‧‧ balls

27, 28‧‧‧Transparent film

29‧‧‧Circuit board

The first figure is a schematic diagram of a conventional tilt sensor.

The second figure is an exploded view of a ball type position sensor according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The third figure is a cross-sectional view of the ball type orientation sensor shown in the second figure.

The fourth to tenth views are schematic views of the ball-type azimuth sensor in various states of use.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a ball type position sensor in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

21‧‧‧First housing part

210‧‧‧ channel

211‧‧‧ plane

212‧‧‧First opening

213‧‧‧Second opening

215‧‧‧Ring inlay

22‧‧‧Second housing part

23‧‧‧ Circuit board

231‧‧‧Electrical terminals

24‧‧‧Lighting elements

25‧‧‧Lighting elements

26‧‧‧ balls

27, 28‧‧‧Transparent film

Claims (9)

A ball type position sensor comprising:
a casing is formed with an annular passage, and a first opening communicating with the passage and two second openings respectively located at two sides of the first opening;
a light-emitting element located at the first opening and emitting light through the first opening toward the channel;
The second detecting elements are respectively located at the second openings and the intensity of the light in the channel is detected through the second openings; and a ball is rotatably correspondingly disposed in the channel, thereby The ball can be rolled in the direction of gravity when the ball-type azimuth sensor is tilted to partially reflect the light emitted by the light-emitting element to one of the light-detecting elements, and the light-detecting elements are respectively detected to have A specific intensity of light and correspondingly output a signal having a specific intensity. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board disposed on one side of the casing and provided with the light-emitting element and the light-detecting elements thereon. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board disposed on one side of the housing and having the light detecting elements disposed thereon, and one disposed on the other side of the housing And another circuit board provided for the light emitting element. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, wherein the channel is annular. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, wherein the connection of the second openings is through a geometric center of the channel, and the distance from the first opening to each of the second openings is equal. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 2, wherein the circuit board is formed with a plurality of conductive terminals on a surface opposite to the casing. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode. The ball-type azimuth sensor of claim 1, wherein the photodetecting elements are photoelectric crystals. A ball-type azimuth sensor according to claim 1, wherein a highly reflective coating is formed on the surface of the ball.