IP Library Granted Patent US 8,587,790
Granted Patent B2
US 8,587,790 · App. 13/246,155 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Optical position detecting device and apparatus provided with position detecting function

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,587,790
App. No.
13/246,155
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a light source unit of an optical position detecting device, a plurality of light emitting devices are mounted on a band-shaped flexible substrate, and the plurality of light emitting devices emit detection light. The flexible substrate is arranged so as to overlap a convex face of a substrate supporting member, and accordingly, in a case where the flexible substrate is too long, the end portion of the flexible substrate can be inserted into a notch. Therefore, there is no case in which the flexile substrate floats.

Claims (26)

1. An optical position detecting device that optically detects a position of a target object, the optical position detecting device comprising:

a light source unit that emits detection light;

a light receiving unit that receives the detection light reflected by the target object that is located in an emission space of the detection light; and

a position detecting unit that detects the position of the target object in the emission space based on a result of the reception of the light in the light receiving unit,

wherein the light source unit includes a plurality of light emitting devices, a band-shaped flexible substrate on which the plurality of light emitting devices are mounted, and a substrate supporting member that includes a convex face bent in a longitudinal direction on which the flexible substrate is arranged so as to overlap, and

wherein a notch, which is concaved from the convex face at a position overlapping an end portion of the flexible substrate and into which the end portion of the flexible substrate is inserted, is disposed in the substrate supporting member, and

an emission intensity monotonously changes from one end of the convex face in the longitudinal direction toward the other end side when the detection light is emitted from the light source units.

2. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a band-shaped first flexible substrate and a band-shaped second flexible substrate that is arranged in parallel with the first flexible substrate in a width direction of the first flexible substrate are included as the flexible substrate,

wherein the plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the first flexible substrate and the plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the second flexible substrate are turned on at different timings,

wherein the emission intensity increases from the one end of the convex face in the longitudinal direction toward the other end side in the plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the first flexible substrate, and

wherein the emission intensity decreases from the one end of the convex face in the longitudinal direction toward the other end side in the plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the second flexible substrate.

3. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the notch is concaved from the convex face at a position overlapping the end portion of the flexible substrate in a longitudinal direction and into which the end portion of the flexible substrate in the longitudinal direction is inserted.

4. The optical position detecting device according to claim 3 , wherein the notch is disposed in the end portion of the convex face in the longitudinal direction.

5. The optical position detecting device according to claim 4 ,

wherein a plurality of the flexible substrates are arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the convex face, and

wherein the notch is disposed at a position in the middle of the convex face in the longitudinal direction.

6. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the notch is concaved from the convex face at a position overlapping an one end portion of the flexible substrate in a width direction and into which the one end portion of the flexible substrate is inserted.

7. The optical position detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein a flange portion, which protrudes from the convex face and with which the other end portion of the flexible substrate in a width direction is brought into contact, is disposed in the substrate supporting member.

8. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 1 .

9. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 2 .

10. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus s comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 3 .

11. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 4 .

12. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 5 .

13. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 6 .

14. An apparatus provided with a position detecting function, the apparatus comprising the optical position detecting device according to claim 7 .

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 Sep 27, 2011
From: KIYOSE, KANECHIKA
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026975/0065 →