Directional input device with a light directing shaft
View Patent ↗A directional input device with a light directing shaft that avoids wear and tear caused by physical contact between a shaft and a sensor surface. A directional input device according to the present teachings includes a light emitter and a shaft having a surface that reflects light from the light emitter. A directional input device according to the present teachings further includes a set of light sensing elements that are positioned to detect a position of the shaft by sensing light reflected from the shaft.
1. A directional input device, comprising:
a light emitter;
a shaft comprising a reflecting surface to reflect light from the light emitter;
a set of light sensing elements positioned to sense light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft and to detect a tilt position of the shaft with respect to x and y axes based on signal states of the light sensing elements; and
a set of apertures corresponding to the light sensing elements to receive light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft, wherein the apertures form a circular light collection area with an inner circular light collection area and an outer circular light collection area.
2. The directional input device of claim 1 , wherein the light sensing elements are positioned to detect a set of predetermined positions of the shaft.
3. The directional input device of claim 1 , wherein the light sensing elements are positioned to detect a set of near directional movements of the shaft and a set of far directional movements of the shaft.
4. The directional input device of claim 3 , wherein the far directional movements correspond to a set of accelerate positions of the shaft.
5. The directional input device of claim 1 , wherein each of the apertures has a pie shape.
6. The directional input device of claim 1 , wherein the outer circular light collection area corresponds to a set of accelerate positions of the shaft.
7. The directional input device of claim 1 , wherein each of the apertures has a sector shape that radiates from the light emitter.
8. The directional input device of claim 7 , wherein each aperture is narrower near the light emitter.
9. The directional input device of claim 8 , wherein a widest portion of each aperture is selected to be narrower than a light beam reflected from the light emitter.
10. A method for providing directional input, comprising:
emitting light from a light emitter;
reflecting the light at a reflecting surface of a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to perform a tilting movement in response to manipulation of the shaft by a user;
receiving reflected light at a set of apertures, the reflected light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft;
detecting a tilt position of the shaft with respect to x and y axes by sensing light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft through at least one of the apertures, wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to detect a set of near directional movements of the shaft and a set of far directional movements of the shaft; and
positioning the apertures relative to the light sensing elements, wherein the apertures form an inner circular light collection area and an outer circular light collection area.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to detect a set of predetermined positions of the shaft.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to form a circular light collection area.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to form an inner circular light collection area and an outer circular light collection area.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning the apertures relative to a set of light sensing elements, wherein each aperture forms a sector shape for receiving the light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting a maximum width of the sector shape to be less than a width of a light beam reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft.
16. A method for providing directional input, comprising:
emitting light from a light emitter;
reflecting the light at a reflecting surface of a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to perform a tilting movement in response to manipulation of the shaft by a user;
receiving reflected light at a set of apertures, the reflected light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft;
detecting a tilt position of the shaft with respect to x and y axes by sensing light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft through at least one of the apertures, wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to form an inner circular light collection area and an outer circular light collection area; and
positioning the apertures relative to the light sensing elements in the inner circular light collection area and the outer circular light collection area.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning a set of light sensing elements to detect a set of near directional movements of the shaft and a set of far directional movements of the shaft.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein sensing light comprises positioning the apertures relative to a set of light sensing elements, wherein each aperture forms a sector shape for receiving the light reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising selecting a maximum width of the sector shape to be less than a width of a light beam reflected from the reflecting surface of the shaft.