IP Library Granted Patent US 8,411,289
Granted Patent B2
US 8,411,289 · App. 12/968,435 · Granted Apr 2, 2013

Optical position detection device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,411,289
App. No.
12/968,435
Granted
Apr 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical position detection device, includes: a light source adapted to emit at least one detection light beam toward one side in a Z-axis direction; a first detector having a light receiving section directed to the one side in the Z-axis direction; a second detector located at a position on the one side in the Z-axis direction, the position being distant from the light source and the first detector, and having a light receiving section directed to the one side in the Z-axis direction; and a position derivation section adapted to derive a position of a object located in a first space between the first detector and the second detector and a position of a object located in a second space on the one side of the second detector in the Z-axis direction based on a light receiving result in the first detector and the second detector.

Claims (22)

1. An optical position detection device adapted to optically detect a position of a target object, comprising:

a position detecting light source adapted to emit at least one detection light beam toward one side in a Z-axis direction intersecting an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction intersecting each other;

a first light detector having a light receiving section directed to the one side in the Z-axis direction;

a second light detector located at a position on the one side in the Z-axis direction, the position being distant from the position detecting light source and the first light detector, and having alight receiving section directed to the one side in the Z-axis direction; and

a position derivation section adapted to derive a position of a target object located in a first space between the first light detector and the second light detector and a position of a target object located in a second space on the one side of the second light detector in the Z-axis direction based on a light receiving result in the first light detector and a light receiving result in the second light detector.

2. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the position derivation section derives the position of the target object located in the second space based on the light receiving result in the second light detector, and detects the position of the target object located in the first space based on a difference between the light receiving result in the first light detector and the light receiving result in the second light detector.

3. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the position derivation section derives a position in the X-axis direction and a position in the Y-axis direction as the position of the target object.

4. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the position derivation section derives a position in the Z-axis direction as the position of the target object.

5. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a transmissive member located on the one side of the position detecting light source and the first light detector in the Z-axis direction, and adapted to hold the second light detector.

6. The optical position detection device according to claim 5 , wherein

the transmissive member has a plate-like shape, and

the first space and the second space are separated by the transmissive member.

7. The optical position detection device according to claim 6 , wherein

the second light detector is disposed on a side of the first space with respect to the transmissive member.

8. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the position detecting light source emits at least one infrared light beam as the detection light beam.

9. The optical position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the position detecting light source has a plurality of light emitting elements having central optical axes located differently, and adapted to emit the respective detection light beams to the one side in the Z-axis direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2010
From: TAKAHASHI, MASAKI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025502/0698 →