Finger navigation device
View Patent ↗A finger navigation device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the navigation device comprises a substrate; a light emitter located on the substrate; a photosensor located on the substrate; and a first cover located above the light emitter and the photosensor. The first cover has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side faces the substrate. A first lens is located in the first cover proximate the light emitter. An aperture is located in the first cover proximate the photosensor. A second cover faces the second side of the first cover and has a first surface proximate a transparent portion.
1. A finger navigation device comprising:
a substrate;
first, second, and third walls that extend from the substrate to define a first chamber and a second chamber;
a light source located on the substrate in the first chamber;
a photosensor located on the substrate in the second chamber;
a top cover located above the light source and the photosensor, the top cover having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side faces the substrate and the second side faces away from the substrate, and wherein the top cover encloses the first chamber and the second chamber;
a first lens located in the top cover proximate the light source and a second lens located in the top cover proximate the photosensor; and
a second cover facing the second side of the top cover, the second cover having a first surface facing the top cover, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a transparent portion through which light can pass to a user;
wherein the first lens of the top cover is configured to bend light emitted from the light source towards the transparent portion of the second cover.
2. The finger navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate, the light source, the photosensor, the top cover, the first lens, the aperture, and the second cover are configured such that light emitted from the light source;
travels along a first light path extending between the light source and the first lens;
is bent by the first lens and then travels along a second light path extending between the first lens and the first surface of the second cover;
and then travels along a third light path extending between the first surface of the second cover and the second surface of the second cover;
and, if reflected by a user, then travels along a fourth light path extending between the second surface of the second cover and the photosensor through the aperture.
3. The finger navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the first lens is a diffractive lens and wherein the transparent portion of the second cover is aligned in an optical path with the aperture of the first cover and the photosensor.
4. A finger navigation device comprising:
a substrate;
a light source located on the substrate;
a photosensor located on the substrate;
a first cover located above the light source and the photosensor, the first cover having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side faces the substrate and the second side faces opposite the first side;
a first lens located in the first cover proximate the light source;
an aperture located in the first cover proximate the photosensor; and
a second cover facing the second side of the first cover, the second cover having a first surface facing the first cover and a second surface opposite the first surface;
wherein the first lens is configured to bend light from the light source toward the first surface of the second cover and the first surface of the second cover bends light towards the second surface of the second cover.
5. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the substrate, the light source, the photosensor, the first cover, the first lens, the aperture, and the second cover are configured such that light emitted from the light source;
travels along a first light path extending between the light source and the first lens;
is bent by the first lens and then travels along a second light path extending between the first lens and the first surface of the second cover;
and then travels along a third light path extending between the first surface of the second cover and the second surface of the second cover;
and, if reflected by a user, then travels along a fourth light path extending between the second surface of the second cover and the photosensor through the aperture.
6. The finger navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the first lens is a diffractive lens and wherein the second cover comprises a transparent portion and wherein the transparent portion is aligned in an optical path with the aperture of the first cover and the photosensor.
7. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the first lens is a diffractive lens.
8. The finger navigation device of claim 7 , wherein the aperture comprises at least one lens.
9. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the second cover comprises a transparent portion and wherein the transparent portion is aligned in an optical path with the aperture of the first cover and the photosensor.
10. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the first lens is a diffractive lens and wherein the second cover comprises a transparent portion and wherein the transparent portion is aligned in an optical path with the aperture of the first cover and the photosensor.
11. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , further comprising a first wall and a second wall that define a first chamber adjacent the substrate, wherein the light source is located in the first chamber, and wherein the second wall blocks direct light paths between the light source and the photosensor.
12. The finger navigation device of claim 11 , further comprising a third wall, wherein the second wall and the third wall define a second chamber adjacent the substrate, wherein the photosensor is located in the second chamber, and wherein the second chamber is optically isolated from direct light emitted by the light source.
13. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , further comprising a block located between the substrate and the first cover, the block defining a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the light source is located in the first chamber and the photosensor is located in the second chamber.
14. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the first cover comprises a substrate having an opening, wherein the first lens and the aperture are located on an insert, and wherein the insert is inserted into the opening.
15. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the first cover is substantially transparent to light emitted by the light source.
16. The finger navigation device of claim 4 , wherein the first cover has a first recess to receive the first lens and a second recess comprising the aperture.
17. The finger navigation device of claim 16 , wherein the second recess receives a lens assembly that is aligned with the aperture.
18. A finger navigation device comprising:
a light source to emit light;
a photosensor array to detect light;
a cover having a transparent portion configured to pass light from the light source to a user, the cover being aligned with the photosensor array such that light reflected from the user passes back through the transparent portion to the photosensor array; and
a lens in an optical path between the light source and the cover, the lens being configured to bend the light that is emitted from the light source towards the transparent portion of the cover;
wherein the lens is a planar optical element that is embedded within a planar structure that is fixed between the light source and the cover such that light emitted from the light source travels through the lens and then to the transparent portion of the cover.
19. The finger navigation device of claim 18 , wherein the lens is a diffractive lens.