Abstract:
The optical pointing device of the present invention comprises a base and an actuator movable connected to the base, wherein the actuator comprises a reflective portion on a side facing the base, and wherein the base comprises a light source for emitting light towards the reflective portion of the actuator, a detector comprising one of more detection units for detecting at least a part of the light reflected by the reflective portion of the actuator, and a transparent element arranged between the actuator and at least one of the light source and the detection units, for providing a closed transparent housing for the light source and/or the detection units.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an optical pointing device comprising a base and an actuator movable connected to the base. Examples of such pointing devices are joysticks and multi functional keys, which are used in for example consumer products, such as mobile phones, personal computers, personal digital assistant and remote controls, and non-consumer products, without excluding further examples. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A prior art input device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,948. This document discloses an input device comprising a base with a slide surface, a movable body slidable on the slide surface, a light-emitting element for emitting light, a reflective portion which is provided for the movable body and has a reflective surface for reflecting the light emitted by the light-emitting element, and a plurality of light-receiving elements for receiving the light reflected by the reflective portion. 
         [0003]    In the prior art input device the movable body and its connection to the base are formed by an insert moulding technique or the like in order to realize a hermetic structure under the surface of the movable body. In this way a substantially dustproof construction can be realized. 
         [0004]    It is an object of the invention, inter alia, to provide an optical pointing device having an improved environment resistance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect, the invention provides an optical pointing device comprising a base and an actuator movable connected to the base, wherein the actuator comprises a reflective portion on a side facing the base, and wherein the base comprises: 
         [0006]    a light source for emitting light towards the reflective portion of the actuator, 
         [0007]    a detector comprising one or more detection units for detecting at least a part of the light reflected by the reflective portion of the actuator, and 
         [0008]    a transparent element arranged between the actuator and the light source and/or the detection units for providing a closed transparent housing for the light source and/or the detection units. 
         [0009]    The base of the optical pointing device of the invention is provided with the transparent element so as to realize a hermetic closure for the light source and/or the detection units. Thus the light source and/or the detection units of the base are well protected from the environment, in particular from moisture and dust. 
         [0010]    The base according to the invention is provided with a closed transparent housing, which makes the handling of the components during assembly much easier. It is noted that the dustproof construction of the prior art and thus any environment resistance, is obtained only after assembly of the input device. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the dustproof construction of the prior art is arranged between the movable body and its connection to the base, and has to cope with the relative movement of the movable body with respect to the base. The base according to the invention also provides environmental protection when the connection between the base and the actuator is not or no longer hermetic. 
         [0012]    The detector is provided with one or more detection units. The device comprises a detector which on the one hand is able to determine the intensity of the reflected beam, and on the other hand is able to establish the position of the reflected beam. 
         [0013]    Suitably, the detector comprises a plurality of detection units. In a first embodiment, the device comprises a detector based on a digital detection principle. In said first embodiment, series of detection units are present in a first direction and a second direction, preferably said first direction extends substantially perpendicular to said second direction. In a second embodiment, the detector is based on an analog detection principle. In said second embodiment a single detection unit per direction (i.e. at least two) is principally sufficient. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the transparent element comprises a transparent material, wherein the light source and/or the detection units are moulded in the transparent material. For this embodiment the light source and/or the detection units are moulded in a transparent compound material, which material provides the transparent element, in particular after the material is cured. The transparent material can be a silicone material or any transparent plastic. 
         [0015]    Advantages of using such a transparent package include low cost and better protection against moisture and dust. Moreover, any electronics of the optical pointing device, in particular any detection circuits and/or control circuits can also be arranged inside this package. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, a surface of the transparent material between the actuator and the light source and/or the detection units, is substantially flat. 
         [0017]    The use of the transparent element or package may give rise to an additional reflection of the light from the light source. Since the transparent element or package is part of the base, and in particular is not movable with the actuator, it may provide a substantially constant background irradiance distribution or profile over the detection units. In one embodiment, the optical pointing device further comprising means to prevent or compensate for the detection of a background light not originating from said actuator, in particular originating from a part of said base, in particular from the transparent element. 
         [0018]    The inventor realized that this background may become substantial, when the background light comprises total reflected light from the transparent element, in particular total internal reflected light from the transparent element. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the detection units are placed in an area substantially outside a zone illuminated by the background light, in particular the zone illuminated by the totally reflected light, which can be determined using geometric optics, depending, inter alia, on the positions of the light source and the transparent element or package. When designing an optical pointing device according to the invention, the detection units are placed outside this zone. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the sensitivity and/or threshold of the detection units is arranged to be substantially proportional to an irradiance profile of the background light. For example, this irradiance profile of the background light can be determined by measuring the reflected light when the actuator with reflective portion is not in place. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the optical pointing device further comprising a detections circuit, wherein said detection circuit is arranged to provide a different threshold for different detection units to compensate for the background light. The threshold of the detection circuit for the different detection units is substantially proportional to the irradiance profile caused by the background light. This embodiment provides an electronic compensation for the background light. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the different detection units are provided with different photosensitive areas. Because the photocurrent (that is the signal) from the detection units scales with the area, the area (e.g. with fixed width and varied length) can be used to control the photocurrent of each detection unit. For instance the higher threshold needed for the detection units located at the peak of the total reflection profile can be brought down to the same level as the detection units located outside the peaks by setting their areas smaller correspondingly. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the photosensitive area of a first detection unit arranged at a first location with a high background irradiance is smaller than the photosensitive area of a second detection unit arranged at a second location with less background irradiance. In one embodiment, the photosensitive areas of the first and second detection unit are arranged to provide substantially the same threshold for the first and second detection unit. However, since the sensitivity to the usable signal (that is the changing signal coming from the reflective portion of the actuator which is added to the constant background signal coming from the total reflection) may also drop. In this case the threshold detection circuit should be designed so that it is still sensitive enough to resolve the usable signal. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the light source and/or the base comprises means for limiting the angular distribution of the emitted light substantially within an angle for total reflection at the transparent element, in particular a critical angle for total internal reflected light from the transparent element. For example, the base may be provided with a baffle to limit the angular distribution of the emitted light. 
         [0025]    According to a second aspect, the invention provides an optical pointing device comprising a base and an actuator movable connected to the base, wherein the actuator comprises a reflective portion on a side facing the base, and wherein the base comprises: 
         [0026]    a light source for emitting light towards the reflective portion of the actuator, 
         [0027]    a detector comprising one or more detection units for detecting at least a part of the light reflected by the reflective portion of the actuator, 
         [0028]    a transparent element arranged between the actuator and the light source and/or the detection units, and 
         [0029]    means to prevent or compensate for the detection of a substantially constant background light originating from the transparent element. 
         [0030]    The inventor realized that a corresponding problem also arises when any transparent element, for example an optical element such as a lens and/or optical filter, is placed between the actuator and the light source and/or the detection units. Any background light originating from any of these transparent elements can also be prevented or compensated by the measures discloses above in relation with the closed transparent housing or packaging. 
         [0031]    According to a third aspect, the invention provides an pointing device comprising a base and an actuator movable connected to the base, which base comprises: 
         [0032]    a light source for illuminating the actuator, 
         [0033]    a detector comprising detection units for detecting light reflected by the actuator, 
         [0034]    wherein the detector is arranged to prevent or compensate for the detection of a substantially constant background light originating from a non-movable constituent of the pointing device. 
         [0035]    The inventor realized that a corresponding problem also arises when any reflective element is placed between or around the actuator and the light source and/or the detection units. Any background light originating from any of these reflective elements can also be prevented or compensated by the measures discloses above in relation with the closed transparent housing or packaging. 
         [0036]    According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a product, such as a consumer or non-consumer product, comprising an optical pointing device as described above, in particular for providing a man-machine-interface that comprises the actuator. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the product comprises a display, which display is an integrated display comprising at least the base of the optical pointing device as described above. This way the light source and detection units may be integrated with the electronics of the display and packaged together with said display electronics, which makes a production easier and less costly. The actuator may be provided on the outside of said display, for example located on a margin of the display area of the integrated display. 
         [0038]    According to a fifth aspect, the invention provides a base unit for an optical pointing device as described above, wherein said base unit comprises: 
         [0039]    a light source for emitting light, 
         [0040]    a detector comprising one or more detection units, which are placed juxtaposed to said light source, and wherein said light source is arranged to direct said emitted light in a direction away from said detection units, and 
         [0041]    a transparent element for providing a closed transparent housing for the light source and/or the detection units. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the detector is arranged to prevent or compensate for the detection of a substantially constant background light originating from said transparent element. On the one hand this background light may originate from scattered light from said transparent element, on the other hand it may originate from back reflected light. 
         [0043]    According to a sixth aspect, the invention provides a method of calibration of the base unit or the optical pointing device as described above, wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
         [0044]    emitting light from said light source, and prevent that said light is reflected by said reflective portion of said actuator, for example when the reflective portion is not in place or by placing a non-reflective element in front of said reflective portion, 
         [0045]    readout said detector to determine the irradiance of the detection units due to the background light. 
         [0046]    According to a seventh aspect, the invention provides a use of the optical pointing device as described above for sensing a pointing action indicated by a user, wherein said use comprises the steps of: 
         [0047]    emitting light towards the reflective portion of the actuator, 
         [0048]    detecting at least part of the light reflected by the reflective portion of the actuator, and 
         [0049]    processing said detection light to sense the pointing action. 
         [0050]    The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0051]    The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0052]      FIG. 1  shows diagrammatically a construction of a silicon die; 
           [0053]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a optical pointing device according to the invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 3  diagrammatically illustrates the total reflection at the package interface; 
           [0055]      FIG. 4  shows diagrammatically an irradiance profile due to a reflection from the reflective portion of the actuator and from the package; 
           [0056]      FIG. 5  shows diagrammatically a discrete detection method with electronic compensation; 
           [0057]      FIG. 6  shows diagrammatically a discrete detection method with tuned photosensitive areas; 
           [0058]      FIG. 7  shows diagrammatically a discrete detection method with photosensitive areas comprising an optical filter; 
           [0059]      FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates the effect of an air gap above the photosensitive areas; 
           [0060]      FIG. 9  shows diagrammatically a construction using a baffle; 
           [0061]      FIG. 10  shows diagrammatically an embodiment where said transparent package is provided with an anti-reflection coating; 
           [0062]      FIG. 11  shows diagrammatically a construction where the surface of the transparent package is curved; and 
           [0063]      FIG. 12  shows a product according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0064]    The heart of the device according to a first exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , is a Si die  1  measuring about 2×2 mm 2  or smaller. On this die  1  there are 4 photodiodes  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  in case of the analog detection method, or arrays of small photodiodes, as shown in  FIG. 5  and describe in more detail below, in case of the discrete detection method. In the middle of the die  1  there is a large metal die pad  6  made from the top interconnect metal layer, on which a bare LED die  7  is mounted. 
         [0065]    The LED die  7  can be connected to the Si substrate die  1  by one bond wire  8  for top-bottom contact LEDs, or two bond wires  8 ,  9  for top-top contact LEDs. In case the LED  7  has top-bottom contact, the substrate of the LED  7  is an electrode itself therefore the LED die  7  must be glued on the die pad  6  using a conducting glue. 
         [0066]    The photodiodes  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  are just normal CMOS diodes or specially optimized CMOS diodes for use in imaging applications. The area on top of the diodes  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  must be open for the access of light. The CMOS technology must be chosen so that the depletion region is as thick as possible. For instance, CMOS  14  or CMOS  18  can be good candidates. 
         [0067]    The rest of the die  1  can be used for the ASIC electronics. Electronics can also be built under the large die pad  6  of the LED  7  to save Si area. 
         [0068]    If the geometry of the photodiodes  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  needs to be longer than the width of the Si die  1 , the whole photodiode configuration can also be located at 45 degrees with respect to the edges of the Si die  1 . A detection circuit or software in a microprocessor for analyzing the signals from the photodiodes may transform the signal back to the 0 degree position, if required. 
         [0069]    The Si die  1  as mentioned above is housed inside a close transparent package  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0070]    In a production process, first of all a Si die array containing multiple of separate dies  1  arranged in an array, is mounted on a lead-frame  11 . After gluing the LED dies  7  on the Si dies  1  using for example the pick-and-place process and making wire bonding for both the contacts from the LED  7  to the Si die  1  and from the Si die  1  to the lead frame  11 . The die array is moulded in a transparent compound material. After the material is cured, the moulded structure is sawn into individual transparent packages having contact pads under the lead-frame  11 . The transparent material (clear compound) can be a silicone material or any transparent plastic. 
         [0071]    Advantages of using the transparent package  10  in this application include lower cost and better protection of the electronics. The transparent package  10  is closed to the environment and therefore the dies  1 ,  7  inside are well protected from moisture and dust. However light still can go through the transparent package  10  to reflect on the mirror  15  and come back to the photodiodes  2 - 5 . 
         [0072]    In a separate fabrication process, a square hard frame  12  that carries a dome-shaped spring  13  is made. The frame  12  is then assembled with the package  10 , possibly using glue. In the last step, a control knob or actuator  14  having a mirror surface  15  at the bottom is attached to the spring  13 . The spring  13  allows the actuator  14  and the mirror  15  to tilt a few degrees around the rest position shown in  FIG. 2 , and to click and release in the vertical direction. All forces from the user&#39;s finger, via the actuator  14 , the spring  13  and the frame  12  should be totally transferred to the Printed Circuit Board (not shown) on which the device is soldered. With this construction the transparent package  10  and the dies  1 ,  7  inside are well protected from excessive external forces. 
         [0073]    The use of the transparent package  10  gives rise to the total internal reflection pattern which may be a problem for the signal. The total internal reflection phenomenon will be explained in the following with reference to  FIG. 3 . When light coming from a medium of higher refraction index n 1 , in this case the transparent package, to a medium of lower refraction index n 2 , in this case the air on top of the package, it will be totally reflected at the interface when the angle of incidence is larger than the critical angle θ crit . The critical angle can be defined as 
         [0000]      sin(θ crit )= n   2   /n   1  
 
         [0074]    For instance, if the transparent package has a refraction index n 1  of 1.42, the critical angle can be found at approximately 45 degrees. Beyond this critical angle the interface will act almost as a perfect mirror; all light beams are totally reflected. 
         [0075]    In  FIG. 3 , light beam  31  arrives at the package interface  16  at an angle of θ 1 &lt;θ crit  thus it can go through, get reflected at the mirror  15  and go back to the package  10 . Light beam  2  arrives at the package interface  16  at an angle θ 2 &gt;θ crit . It satisfies the total internal reflection hence is totally reflected at the interface  16  as if there is a mirror located at that position. 
         [0076]    The light irradiance received at the photodiodes  2 - 5  is thus the total irradiance coming from the reflection at the mirror  15  and the total internal reflection from the package interface  16 . A calculation has been made for a device having realistic dimensions. In  FIG. 4 , the irradiance profile received at the Si substrate, along a line that crosses the center of the light source, is presented. The graph shows three different curves: the first curve  17  is the irradiance profile of light reflected by the mirror  15 ; the second curve  18  represents the irradiance as a result of the total internal reflection at the package interface  16  and the third curve  19  shows the total irradiance received at the substrate.  FIG. 4  clearly shows that the total internal reflection causes two symmetric peaks  20  at the outer areas of the substrate and the irradiance of those peaks is even higher than that of the reflection profile  17  from the mirror  15 . 
         [0077]    Fortunately the total internal reflection pattern  18  is not changed with the tilting angle of the mirror  15 . For an analog detection method, when using a differential mode to obtain the signal of the sensor, the constant background due to the total reflection can be substantially eliminated. 
         [0078]    However for a discrete detection method, the total reflection pattern may give a problem, which will be described in the following. In  FIG. 5 , an example of a discrete detection principle is shown. In short, the four photodiodes  2 - 5  are divided into many small “pixels”. In this example, it is supposed that the light spot contains only the reflection pattern of the mirror  15 . Four groups of small pixels are arranged around a middle light source  71 . Within each group, besides the normal pixels D m−1  . . . D m−n  (where m=1−4) there is a special pixel which is used for detecting the click (D m−z ) and a reference pixel (D m−ref ) which is used as the reference for the threshold detection. These two special pixels are always located inside the light spot  72 . A plurality of threshold detection circuits  73  compare the signal coming from the pixels D m−1  . . . D m−n  to that of the reference pixel (D m−ref ). Each pixel is connected to a simple threshold detection circuit  73 . This circuit converts the analog signal of the pixel into a digital signal: for example, if the signal at the pixel is above a certain threshold the output of the circuit returns a “0”, otherwise it returns a “1”. The total signal received by each of the 4 groups of pixels is obtained by counting the number of 1s and 0s using a counting circuit. 
         [0079]    When the sensor substrate is encapsulated inside a transparent package  10 , the total internal reflection will result in much higher background signal at pixels located close to the total internal reflection peaks  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . If the threshold value is set the same for all the pixels, the pixels located close to the total reflection peaks  20  may always return a “0” (meaning at light) regardless the signal coming form the mirror. 
         [0080]    There are several solutions for this problem: 
         [0081]    In a first exemplary embodiment the pixels are placed within the area where the total internal reflection does not occur. In the situation of  FIG. 4 , for instance, the pixels must be placed in the area  41  from −400 μm to +400 μm, corresponding to the region free of total reflection. 
         [0082]    In a second exemplary embodiment the threshold is set differently for different pixels by the circuit design, to compensate for the change of the background irradiance due to the total reflection. Essentially the setup as shown in  FIG. 5  can be used. However the simple threshold detection circuit  73  must be adapted in order to obtain for each pixel a threshold that is substantially proportional to the irradiance profile  18  of  FIG. 4 , caused by the total internal reflection. 
         [0083]    In a third exemplary embodiment, the areas of the pixels  61  are tuned so that the threshold value can be a constant for all pixels  61 . This case is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Because the photocurrent from the pixels scales with area, the photosensitive area of the pixels, for example with fixed width and varied length, can be used to control the photocurrent of each pixel  61 . For instance the higher threshold needed for the pixels  62  located at the peak  63  of the total reflection profile  64  can be brought down to the same level as the pixels  61 ,  65  located outside the peaks by setting their areas smaller correspondingly. 
         [0084]    In a fourth exemplary embodiment, the threshold value of the pixels may be the same for all pixels. However the reflected light is filtered by an optical attenuation filter(s) on top of said pixels, wherein the optical density or transmission coefficient of said filter is used to control the photocurrent of each pixel, as shown in  FIG. 7 . For instance the higher threshold needed for the pixels located at the peak  75  of the total reflection profile  74  can be brought down to the same level as the pixels located outside the peaks by providing these pixels with an optical filter with a lower transmission coefficient. 
         [0085]    In a fifth exemplary embodiment, the problem of total internal reflection on the interface  16  is solved by introducing an air gap  83  above the photosensitive areas  84 . In the example as shown in  FIG. 8 , the air gap  83  provides a further interface  17  which is substantially parallel to the interface  16 . If a light-beam  82  satisfies the total internal reflection at the package interface  16  and is totally reflected, it also satisfies this condition at the air gap interface  17  and is again totally reflected, without reaching the photosensitive areas  84 . In this case the package  10  may function as a planar waveguide for transporting the totally reflected light away from the photosensitive areas. 
         [0086]    In a sixth exemplary embodiment, as shown  FIG. 9 , a baffle  93  is placed on top of the light source for limiting the angular distribution of the emitted light substantially within an angle for total reflection at the package interface  16 . 
         [0087]    The total internal reflection problem can be reduced or even substantially eliminated using a anti-reflection coating on top of said transparent packaging. In one embodiment, said anti-reflection coating comprises a series of transparent layers, for example dielectric layers, on top of each other. 
         [0088]    In the seventh exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the total internal reflection can be substantially eliminated using the refraction index matching method. Suppose that the package  101  has the refraction index of n 1 , which is considerable higher than n 0  of air  100 , that would cause the total internal reflection to happen at a relatively low critical angle if the package  101  is directly interfacing with air  100 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 10 , a number of transparent layers  102 ,  103  with different refraction indices n 2 , n 3 , . . . , n m  are placed in between the package material  101  and air  100 . The order of the layers  102 ,  103  and the refraction indices are arranged such that n 1 &gt;n 2 &gt;n 3 &gt; . . . &gt;n m &gt;n 0 . By this way the critical angle of a light beam going from a layer of n i  to the next layer of n i+1  can be higher. Thus the total internal reflection can substantially be avoided. In  FIG. 10 , only two layers  102 ,  103  are shown as an example. When a light beam  104  goes from the package  101  with refraction index n 1  to the first layer  102  with refraction index n 2 , the critical angle can be higher since the ratio n 2 /n 1  is larger than the ratio n 0 /n 1 . At the interface between the top layer  103  with refraction index n 3  and air  100 , similarly, the critical angle is higher because n 0 /n 3  is lager than n 0 /n 1 . Therefore, the beam  104  which would be totally internal reflected in a system without refraction index matching, will now pass without being totally reflected. 
         [0089]    In an eight exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the total internal reflection problem can be overcome by providing the top surface  112  of the package  111  with a curved form, such that the angle of incident of a light beam  113  from the source  114  at the boundary  112  between the package  111  and air  110 , is reduced. For example the top surface  112  of the package  111  may be moulded in a curved, dome-shaped form, such that the angle of incident of any beam, or the majority of beams, originating from the source  114  and going towards the interface  112  is smaller than the critical angle. In the example in  FIG. 11 , the top surface  112  of the package  111  has a convex spherical shape. The light beam  113  arrives at the surface  112  with the incident angel θ 1 &lt;θ critical . Therefore a total internal reflection does not occur. Any other form of the top surface  112 , rather than spherical that satisfies the above condition is possible. Furthermore, in stead of moulding a curved top surface, a transparent element  115  having a curved top surface may be attached on top of a standard moulded flat top surface  116 . In one embodiment said transparent element  115  has substantially the same refractive index as the package  111  material. In one embodiment said transparent element  115  is glued on top of the package  111  material, preferably using a gluing material with a matching refractive index. 
         [0090]      FIG. 12  shows an example of a product  20  according to the invention. It comprises a display  21  and an actuator  22  such as a joystick. The joystick is for example mounted on a joystick area  25  of the display area that comprises the detection circuit and the light source between integrated electronics areas  23 , which form part of a display substrate  24 . The display  21 , the electronics  23 , detection circuit and the light source are housed inside the same transparent package. The actuator  22  is hung above this package. 
         [0091]    The optical joystick is based on the active-matrix OLED display technology. The arrangement consists of an OLED light source and a number of photo detectors based on TFTs fabricated on a common substrate, and a joystick having a reflector, hung above the substrate. 
         [0092]    This arrangement can be used in devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and other handheld devices to navigate through the menus on the display. The  FIG. 10  right side shows the combined display-joystick in a mobile phone, for example. The body of joystick and its suspension mechanism can be built on the display substrate (see  FIG. 10 , bottom-left), or can be a part of the top cover of the phone. 
         [0093]    It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit an scope of the present invention.