Controllers and sensors incorporating optical flexion sensors
View Patent ↗Controllers and sensor systems include a base member, a movable member operably coupled to the base member, and at least first and second flexible light guide assemblies extending between the movable member and the base member. Each flexible light guide assembly includes a flexible light guide and an associated light sensor. The systems may include a processor coupled to the light sensors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive light sensor data from the light sensors, and calculate position data of the movable member based on the received light sensor data. In aspects, the systems may incorporate additional flexible light guide assemblies. In one example, a controller system may include a joystick incorporating four flexible light guide assemblies to provide enhanced spatial resolution and directional control.
1 . A controller comprising:
a base member;
a control member movably coupled to the base member, the control member being configured for multi-planar displacement relative to the base member;
a first flexible light guide assembly coupled between the control member and the base member, the first flexible light guide assembly including a first plurality of optical elements arranged in series within a first flexible tube, and a first light sensor coupled to the first flexible light guide assembly;
a second flexible light guide assembly coupled between the control member and the base member, the second flexible light guide assembly including a second plurality of optical elements arranged in series within a second flexible tube, and a second light sensor coupled to the second flexible light guide assembly; and
a processor coupled to the first light sensor and the second light sensor,
wherein the first and second flexible light guide assemblies are configured to transmit light through the optical elements via sequential optical element-to-optical element optical coupling such that bending of the first and second flexible tubes varies the intensity of transmitted light,
wherein the varied light intensity corresponds to the degree of deflection of the control member; and
wherein the processor is configured to output a control signal, based on the varied light intensity corresponding to the degree of deflection of the control member, to control an object.
2 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second flexible light guides includes a series of optical elements configured to direct or transmit light along the first and second flexible light guides.
3 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the optical elements are spherical-shaped or semi-spherical-shaped optical elements configured to focus or redirect incident light.
4 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the optical elements are made of plastic, glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, or fused silica or quartz, and
wherein the optical elements are arranged to maintain optical transmission during bending of the first and second flexible light guides.
5 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second flexible light guides includes a flexible tube in which the optical elements are disposed, the flexible tube being deformable in response to mechanical motion of the control member.
6 . The controller according to claim 5 , wherein the flexible tube is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone rubber, polyurethane (PU), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a fluoropolymer, or a material woven into a mesh.
7 . The controller according to claim 2 , further comprising first and second light sources configured to direct light to a spherical optical element disposed at a first end portion of the first and second flexible light guides, respectively, the first and second light sources being configured to emit light into the first and second flexible light guides along an optical axis.
8 . The controller according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second light sources are laser diodes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
9 . The controller according to claim 7 , further comprising first and second light intensity sensors disposed at or near a second end portion of the first and second flexible light guides, respectively.
10 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the control member is a control stick including a ball member configured to mate with a socket in which the ball member may rotate to enable multi-plane displacement or deflection of the control member.
11 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is a joystick, a control stick, a side stick, a game stick, a thumbstick, an analog stick, a manipulator stick, a control lever, or a hand controller.
12 . The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a third flexible light guide assembly and a fourth flexible light guide assembly each coupled between the control member and the base member, the third flexible light guide assembly including a third plurality of optical elements arranged in series within a third flexible tube and a third light sensor coupled to the third flexible light guide assembly, and the fourth flexible light guide assembly including a fourth plurality of optical elements arranged in series within a fourth flexible tube and a fourth light sensor coupled to the fourth flexible light guide assembly.
13 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein each optical element is a spherical lens, and wherein each spherical lens has a diameter approximately equal to a diameter of the respective flexible tube.
14 . A method comprising:
receiving first light intensity data from a first light sensor configured to detect light transmitted through a first flexible light guide assembly coupled to a movable member, the first flexible light guide assembly including a first plurality of spherical lenses arranged in series within a first flexible tube;
receiving second light intensity data from a second light sensor configured to detect light transmitted through a second flexible light guide assembly coupled to the movable member, the second flexible light guide assembly including a second plurality of spherical lenses arranged in series within a second flexible tube;
determining position data of the movable member based on the first and second light intensity data; and
outputting a control signal, based on a varied light intensity corresponding to a degree of deflection of the movable member, to control an object,
wherein the first and second flexible light guide assemblies are configured to transmit light through the spherical lenses via sequential lens-to-lens optical coupling such that bending of the first and second flexible tubes varies the intensity of transmitted light, and
wherein the varied light intensity corresponds to the degree of deflection of the movable member.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the position data of the movable member is transmitted to an apparatus to control operation of the apparatus.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is a display, a robot, or a vehicle.
17 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the position data is sensor data.
18 . A sensor system comprising:
a base member;
a sensor member movably coupled to the base member;
a first flexible light guide assembly coupled between the sensor member and the base member, the first flexible light guide assembly including a first plurality of spherical lenses arranged in series within a first flexible tube and a first light sensor coupled to the first flexible light guide assembly;
a second flexible light guide assembly coupled between the sensor member and the base member, the second flexible light guide assembly including a second plurality of spherical lenses arranged in series within a second flexible tube and a second light sensor coupled to the second flexible light guide assembly; and
a processor coupled to the first light sensor and the second light sensor,
wherein the first and second flexible light guide assemblies are configured to transmit light through the spherical lenses via sequential lens-to-lens optical coupling such that bending of the first and second flexible tubes varies the intensity of transmitted light,
wherein the varied light intensity corresponds to a degree of displacement or deformation of the sensor member, and
wherein the processor is configured to output a control signal, based on the varied light intensity corresponding to the degree of displacement or deformation of the sensor member, to control an object.
19 . The sensor system of claim 18 , further comprising a memory having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive light sensor data from the first and second light sensors; and
determine position data of the sensor member based on the light sensor data.