Granted Patent B2

US 8,605,035 · App. 12/771,240 · Granted Dec 10, 2013

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A light guide assembly for an optical finger navigation (OFN) device which generates a navigation signal in response to a movement detected at a navigation surface based on light reflected from a user's finger, the light guide assembly comprising:

a housing with vertical walls formed of a substantially opaque material, wherein the housing defines:

an interior space with dimensions sufficient to house an OFN sensor module; and

a navigation window for alignment between a sensor array location of the OFN sensor module and a navigation surface; and

a vertical light guide with vertical walls formed of a substantially translucent material, wherein the vertical light guide is configured to guide light from a light source approximately at a base of the vertical light guide toward a light emission surface which circumscribes at least a portion of the navigation window defined by the housing.

2. The light guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a reflective surface to reflect the light from the light source into the vertical light guide, wherein the reflective surface is a multi-faceted surface with a non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) coating.

3. The light guide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vertical light guide further comprises a light distribution feature, wherein the light distribution feature comprises a geometrical variation in a physical structure of the vertical light guide to redirect light around or out of the vertical light guide.

4. A computerized device comprising:

a screen for visual display of a graphical image;

an optical finger navigation (OFN) device for detecting user inputs based on light reflected from a user's finger at a navigation surface to manipulate at least a portion of the graphical image on the screen; and

an effect lighting apparatus disposed to circumscribe the navigation surface of the OFN device, wherein the effect lighting apparatus is configured to provide a visual indicator of a location of the navigation surface of the OFN device relative to the screen, without interfering with the functionality of the OFN device.

5. An optical finger navigation (OFN) device comprising:

an OFN sensor module coupled to a circuit substrate, wherein the OFN sensor module is configured to generate a navigation signal in response to a movement detected at a navigation surface based on light reflected from a user's finger;

a light source coupled to the circuit substrate, wherein the light source is configured to generate light; and

a vertical light guide comprising a light emission surface disposed to circumscribe a navigation window at the navigation surface, wherein the vertical light guide is configured to receive the light from the light source and to guide the light toward the light emission surface.

6. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the vertical light guide comprises a substantially translucent ring.

7. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , further comprising a housing disposed between the OFN sensor module and the vertical light guide, wherein the housing comprises a substantially opaque vertical wall circumscribing the perimeter of the OFN sensor module to shield the OFN sensor module from the light in the vertical light guide.

8. The optical finger navigation device of claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises a reflective surface to reflect the light from the light source into the vertical light guide.

9. The optical finger navigation device of claim 8 , wherein the reflective surface is a multi-faceted surface with facets oriented along intersecting, non-parallel planes.

10. The optical finger navigation device of claim 8 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) coating applied to the housing.

11. The optical finger navigation device of claim 8 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a protrusion with angled sidewalls to reflect at least some of the light in substantially opposing directions in the circumerential directions of the vertical light guide.

12. The optical finger navigation device of claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises a top flange coupled to the vertical wall, wherein the top flange extends horizontally over a perimeter portion of a top surface of the OFN sensor module, wherein the top flange defines a navigation window between the navigation surface and a sensor array of the OFN sensor module.

13. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the vertical light guide further comprises a light distribution feature, wherein the light distribution feature comprises a geometrical variation in a physical structure of the vertical light guide to redirect light around or out of the vertical light guide.

14. The optical finger navigation device of claim 13 , wherein the light distribution feature is defined by one or more of the following:

a non-planar sidewall with an undulating pattern;

a tiered sidewall with a ledge to channel light around the vertical light guide; or

a serration detent to cause total internal reflection.

15. The optical finger navigation device of claim 13 , wherein the light distribution feature is located in approximately a corner region of the vertical light guide to direct light out of the light emission surface at the corner region of the vertical light guide.

16. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , further comprising a transitional light guide disposed between the vertical light guide and the circuit substrate, wherein the transitional light guide is configured to provide a light guide path for the light from the light source to an incident light surface of the vertical light guide.

17. The optical finger navigation device of claim 16 , wherein:

the light source comprises a top-emitting light emitting diode (LED); and

the transitional light guide comprises a light pipe, wherein the light pipe comprises:

a bottom surface to receive light from the top-emitting LED;

opposing protrusions extending in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the bottom surface;

at least one reflective surface to internally reflect and redirect light within the light pipe from the bottom surface to the opposing protrusions; and

at least one emission surface to emit light out of the light pipe and into the incident light surface of the vertical light guide.

18. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the vertical light guide comprises a light interface surface to receive the light from the light source, wherein the light interface surface comprises a reflective angular protrusion to reflect the light from the light source into a vertical transmission interface of the vertical light guide.

19. The optical finger navigation device of claim 5 , further comprising a cover for the vertical light guide, wherein the cover for the vertical light guide comprises:

a central navigation plate that is substantially translucent to a wavelength of light that is detectable by the OFN sensor module, wherein a top surface of the central navigation plate comprises the navigation surface; and

a diffuse transmission ring substantially circumscribing the central navigation plate, wherein a bottom surface of the diffuse transmission ring is configured to substantially align with a top surface of the vertical light guide, and a top surface of the diffuse transmission ring comprises the light emission surface to emit the light from the vertical light guide as effect lighting surrounding the navigation surface.

20. The optical finger navigation device of claim 19 , further comprising a non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) coating applied to the top surface of the diffuse transmission ring of the cover.

Assignments (8)