WO2006091050A1

WO2006091050A1 - Pointing device using holographic optical element

Info

Publication number: WO2006091050A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Chul Juh
Original assignee: Mobisol Inc.
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2006-02-25
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: KR100616744B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pointing device using a holographic optical element, in which a complex holographic optical element realizes functions of lens and grating optical elements in order to provide a subminiaturized ultra-slim two-dimensional pointing device. The pointing device comprises: a light emitting section for illuminating a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing; a light transferring section for transferring light emitted from the light emitting section to an optical pad and changing the path of the light; an optical pad for receiving the light from the light emitting section and reflecting the light, on which the finger or the substitute for a finger is located; a holographic optical element image formation section for collecting the light reflected by the optical pad and forming an image; an attachment section to which the light transferring section and the holographic optical element formation section are fixed; an optical darkroom body for integrally forming the light emitting section, the light transferring section, the optical pad, the holographic optical element image formation section, and the attachment section, which are embedded therein to provide an optical darkroom; and a sensor section for converting the image formed by the holographic optical element image formation section to electrical signals and outputting the electrical signals. Therefore, the pointing device using a holographic optical element complexly according to the present invention realizes functions of optical elements in illumination and image formation systems by using a holographic optical element, thereby realizing the pointing device in a slim type, reducing the number of optical parts, reducing the manufacturing cost, and improving the productivity.

Description

DESCRIPTION

POINTING DEVICE USING HOLOGRAPHIC OPTICAL

ELEMENT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pointing device using a holographic optical element, and more particularly to a pointing device using a holographic optical element, in which a complex holographic optical element (HOE) realizes functions of lens and grating optical elements in order to provide a subminiaturized ultra-slim two-dimensional pointing device.

Background Art

Recently, information appliances such as notebook computers and personal portable communication terminals have been widely supplied. The information appliances generally have flat-panel displays and graphic user interfaces so as to maximize convenience for users. For graphic user interfaces of portable information terminals, pointing devices are used as input units of information appliances. The pointing devices used as input units of information appliances include track balls, mice, touch screen panels, touch pads.

Recently, as portable terminals, PDAs, and portable broadcasting receivers have been combined and tend to be multifunctional due to developments of digital technologies, subminiaturized ultra-slim input units of low power consumption and high efficiency, which can be used in various environments, have been required.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional integrated pointing device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pointing device 10 is mounted to a flexible printed circuit board 20 which is a means for connecting to a circuit a structure including a lens, a housing, an image sensor, a PCB, and an optical pad. The pointing device is integrally formed to prevent penetration of foreign substances such as dust, and can be used in industrial environments or wearable computing environments. FIG. 2 is a view showing a conventional integrated pointing device in detail. Referring to FIG. 2, the pointing device includes a light emitting section 30, an image acquisition section 35, an image formation section 40, a light receiving section 45, a movement detecting section 50, and a light transferring section 55. The light emitting section 30 provides a light source for illuminating a control means such as a finger located on the image acquisition section 35, and includes a visible ray LED or an infrared ray LED. The image acquisition section 35 is a portion on which a user locates a means such as a finger, and receives the light emitted from the light emitting section 30 and reflects the light to the image formation section 40.

The image formation section 40 collects the light reflected by the image acquisition section 35 to form an image and transfers the image to the light receiving section 45. The light receiving section 45 is a means for converting the image formed by the image formation section 40 to electrical signals and outputting the electrical signals, and includes an image sensor array.

The movement detecting section 50 is a means for detecting a movement of a means such as a finger by generating movement data on the basis of the output of the light receiving section 45. The light transferring section 55 is interposed between the light emitting section 30 and the image acquisition section 35 so as to transfer the light emitted from the light emitting section 30 to the image acquisition section 35.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a pointing device using a conventional reflecting mirror. As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitted from a light emitting section 60 irradiates an image acquisition section 65 making contact with a means such as a finger. The light reflected by the image acquisition section 65 according to the movement of the means such as a finger is reflected by the reflecting mirror 75, and the light containing the image of the movement of the means such as a finger forms an image in a light receiving section 70.

The light receiving section 70 detects the light containing the image of the movement of the means such as a finger, convert the light to electrical signals, and provide the electrical signals to a control unit 80. The control unit 80 performs amplification, filtration, and photoelectric conversion according to the electrical signals converted by the light receiving section 70, and provides the result to an arithmetic unit 85.

Therefore, the conventional pointing device can realize an ultra-slim structure by reducing the optical distance by half through the reflecting mirror.

Disclosure Technical Problem

The conventional technology forms an optical darkroom in a closed type, and uses a subminiaturized optical type pointing device in which a classical optical system is formed in an integrally realized body. However, in the case in which the classical optical system is used in the pointing device, if the optical system is reduced to less than 3 mm, the optimal efficiency cannot be realized.

Further, in order to reduce the limit of the optical system, the pointing device realizes a slim type structure by using a reflecting mirror. Even in this case, its reliability is good, but a new slim type design is required due to the limit in designing the slim type structure.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above- mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device using a holographic optical element, which is manufactured by employing a complex holographic optical element as an image formation section so as to provide a subminiaturized ultra-slim pointing device, thereby reducing the limit in realizing an optical system.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish this object, there is provided a pointing device using a holographic optical element, which comprises: a light emitting section for illuminating a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing; a light transferring section for transferring light emitted from the light emitting section to an optical pad and changing the path of the light; an optical pad for receiving the light from the light emitting section and reflecting the light, on which the finger or the substitute for a finger is located; a holographic optical element image formation section for collecting the light reflected by the optical pad and forming an image; an attachment section to which the light transferring section and the holographic optical element formation section are fixed; an optical darkroom body for integrally forming the light emitting section, the light transferring section, the optical pad, the holographic optical element image formation section, and the attachment section, which are embedded therein to provide an optical darkroom; and a sensor section for converting the image formed by the holographic optical element image formation section to electrical signals and outputting the electrical signals. Advantageous Effects

Therefore, the pointing device using a holographic optical element complexly according to the present invention realizes functions of optical elements in illumination and image formation systems by using a holographic optical element, thereby realizing the pointing device in a slim type, reducing the number of optical parts, reducing the manufacturing cost, and improving the productivity.

Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional integrated pointing device.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a conventional integrated pointing device in detail.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a pointing device using a conventional reflecting mirror. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the pointing device of FIG. 4. FIGs. 6A to 6D are views showing a holographic optical element and a holographic optical element grating lens section according to the present invention.

FIGs. 7A and 7B are views showing optical elements which can be realized by a holographic optical element according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

100, 200, 300 : a light emitting section 110, 210 : a holographic optical element grating lens section 120, 220, 320 : an optical darkroom body 130 : a holographic optical element complex optical section 140, 230, 330 : an optical pad 150, 240, 340 : a holographic optical element image formation section

160 : a holographic optical element attachment section 170, 250, 350 : a PCB 180, 260, 360 : a sensor section

270, 370 : a reflecting mirror

Mode for Invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The objects, technical constitutions, operations, and effects of the present invention will be clearly understood by the following description. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the pointing device of FIG. 4. Referring to FIGs. 4 and 5, the pointing device using a holographic optical element includes a light emitting section 100, a holographic optical element grating lens section 110, an optical darkroom body 120, a holographic optical element complex optical section 130, an optical pad 140, a holographic optical element image formation section 150, a holographic optical element attachment section 160, a PCB 170, a sensor section 180, and a movement detecting section (not shown). The light emitting section 100 is provided to control a pointer to be moved by illuminating a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing, and it is preferable that the light emitting section 100 includes a light emitting diode, a laser diode, or an organic EL (electroluminescent) diode to emit light. The holographic optical element grating lens section 110 functions as a light transferring section, and transfers the light emitted from the light emitting section 100 to the optical pad 140 using a grating and lens complex holographic optical element. The holographic optical element grating lens section 110 includes a condensing prism lens and a grating optical holographic optical element or an integrated complex holographic optical element, i.e. a holographic optical element pattern in which holographic optical element gratings and holographic optical element lenses are complexly realized on a single plane. The holographic optical element is fixed to the holographic optical element attachment section. The holographic optical element grating lens section 110 is used to change the path of the light.

The holographic optical element image formation section 150 for collecting the light reflected by the optical pad 140 and then forming an image also includes a holographic optical element, which is fixed to the holographic optical element attachment section 160.

The optical pad 140 receives the light from the light emitting section 100 and then reflects the light, and a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing, is located on the optical pad 140. The holographic optical element complex optical section 130 includes the holographic optical element grating lens section 110 and the holographic optical element image formation section 150, and is integrally formed. The holographic optical element image formation section 150 collects the light reflected by the optical pad 140 and then forms an image, and includes a condensing prism lens and a grating optical holographic optical element or an integrated complex holographic optical element.

The sensor section 180 is provided to convert the image formed by the holographic optical element image formation section 150 to electrical signals and output the electrical signals, and includes an image sensor array. The image sensor array includes 15 by 15 to 150 by 150 pixels. The image sensor uses a CMOS or CCD sensor. The image sensor controls the light emitting section 100 so that it is turned off in the case in which a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing, is not detected, in order to protect the eyesight of the user. The movement detecting section detects a movement of an image on the basis of the output of the sensor section.

The optical darkroom body 120 integrally forms the light emitting section 100, the holographic optical element grating lens section 110, the optical pad 140, and the holographic optical element image formation section 150, which are embedded in the optical darkroom provided by the optical darkroom body 120.

The PCB 170 forming the optical darkroom together with the optical darkroom body 120 minimizes optical arrangement and improves the productivity by disposing circuit sections such as the light emitting section 100 and the sensor section 180 on the same plane so that they can be subminiaturized, ultra-slim, and integrated.

The structure is simplified by integrally forming the optical darkroom body 120 and the holographic optical element attachment section 160 by using an optical plastic such as PMME (phosphatidyl-N- monomethylethanolamine) and PC (poly-carbonate), and the reliability is secured by using the same temperature change characteristics.

Therefore, in the case in which the holographic optical elements of FIGs. 4 and 5 are complexly realized, the number of optical parts can be reduced. FIGs. 6A to 6O are views showing the holographic optical element and the holographic optical element grating lens section according to the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a pattern of a holographic optical element grating, which is formed by an interference of two planar waves, and FIG. 6B shows a holographic optical element lens formed by an interference of two planar waves. FIG. 6C is a view showing an example of an ultra-slim optical system in which a holographic optical element grating is engaged with a holographic optical element lens, and 6D shows a preferred embodiment of a holographic optical element grating lens in which a holographic optical element grating and a holographic optical element lens are formed in a single plane so as to enable the manufacture of an ultra-slim and subminiaturized optical system.

FIGs. 7 A and 7B are views showing optical elements which can be realized by the holographic optical element according to the present invention. FIG. 7 A represents a lens, and FIG. 7B represents a grating element.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the pointing device using a holographic optical element includes a light emitting section 200, a holographic optical element grating lens section 210, an optical darkroom body 220, an optical pad 230, a holographic optical element image formation section 240, a PCB 250, a sensor section 260, and a reflecting mirror 270.

The light emitted from the light emitting section 200 transfers the light to the optical pad 230 through the grating and lens complex holographic optical element grating lens section 210. The holographic optical element image formation section 240 collects the reflected light and transfers the light to the sensor section 260 through the reflecting mirror 270. An image sensor in the sensor section 260 is fixed to the PCB 250. The reflecting mirror 270 transfers the light through a planar plate waveguide (not shown) which enables a subminiaturized structure.

The optical darkroom body 220 and the optical pad 230, and the holographic optical element image formation section 240 and the PCB 250 are integrally formed by using an optical plastic. FIG. 9 is a view showing a pointing device using a holographic optical element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the pointing device using a holographic optical element includes a light emitting section 300, a condensing prism lens 310, an optical darkroom body 320, an optical pad 330, a holographic optical element image formation section 340, a PCB 350, a sensor section 360, and a reflecting mirror 370.

In order to collect the light from the light emitting section 300 and obtain an image having an effective contrast from a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing, the condensing prism lens 310 condenses the light and sends the light to the optical pad 330. The condensing prism lens 310 is designed by using a prism and at least one lens so as to improve the efficiency of the light.

The holographic optical element image formation section 340 collects the reflected light and transfers the light to the sensor section 360 through the reflecting mirror 370. An image sensor in the sensor section 360 is fixed to the PCB 350.

The optical darkroom body 320 and the optical pad 330, and the holographic optical element image formation section 340 and the PCB 350 are integrally formed by using an optical plastic, thereby simplifying the structure.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A pointing device using a holographic optical element, which comprises: a light emitting section for illuminating a finger or a substitute for a finger, such as clothing; a light transferring section for transferring light emitted from the light emitting section to an optical pad and changing the path of the light; an optical pad for receiving the light from the light emitting section and reflecting the light, on which the finger or the substitute for a finger is located; a holographic optical element image formation section for collecting the light reflected by the optical pad and forming an image; an attachment section to which the light transferring section and the holographic optical element formation section are fixed; an optical darkroom body for integrally forming the light emitting section, the light transferring section, the optical pad, the holographic optical element image formation section, and the attachment section, which are embedded therein to provide an optical darkroom; and a sensor section for converting the image formed by the holographic optical element image formation section to electrical signals and outputting the electrical signals.

2. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a PCB to which the light emitting section and the sensor section are fixed.

3. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a movement detecting section for detecting a movement of the image on the basis of the output of the sensor section.

4. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a reflecting mirror for transferring the light reflected by the holographic optical element image formation section through a planar plate waveguide.

5. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light transferring section includes a condensing prism lens and a grating optical holographic optical element or an integrated complex holographic optical element.

6. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the holographic optical element image formation section includes a condensing prism lens and a grating optical holographic optical element or an integrated complex holographic optical element.

7. A pointing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein The condensing prism lens includes a prism and at least one lens so as to improve the efficiency of the light.

8. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting section includes a light emitting diode, a laser diode, or an organic EL diode.

9. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical darkroom body, the PCB, and the attachment section are formed by using a PMME or PC optical plastic.