Force sensor device and method for detecting force based on temporal or spatial differential image

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022137723-A1
Application number	US-202217577005-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2022
Priority date	Aug 20, 2017
Publication date	May 5, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A force sensor device includes a first structure component, an optical sensor, and a flexible structure component. The optical sensor is disposed on the first structure component. The flexible structure component has a convex portion, and the flexible structure component is assembled with the first structure component to form a chamber in which the optical sensor is disposed. The optical sensor senses light ray transmitted from the flexible structure component to at least one pixel unit to generate at least one differential image and then detects a user's control force applied for the flexible structure component according to the at least one differential image. Differential image is temporal differential image, generated from successive pixel values of a single pixel unit, or is spatial differential image, generated based on temporal differential images of at least two neighboring pixel units.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A force sensor device, comprising:
a first structure component; an optical sensor having pixel units, disposed on the first structure component; and a flexible structure component having a convex portion, the flexible structure component assembled with the first structure component to form a chamber in which the optical sensor is disposed; wherein the optical sensor is arranged for sensing light ray transmitted from the flexible structure component to at least one pixel unit to generate at least one differential image and then detecting a user's control force applied for the flexible structure component according to the at least one differential image; and, the at least one differential image is at least one temporal differential image, generated from successive pixel values of a single pixel unit, or is at least one spatial differential image, generated based on temporal differential images of at least two neighboring pixel units.

2 . The force sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is arranged to determine a coordination position, a magnitude, or a direction of the user's control force applied for the flexible structure component by detecting a displacement, a size, or a shape of the at least one differential image.

3 . The force sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pixel unit is used for determining whether to generate the at least one temporal differential image by sensing a pixel difference between the successive pixel values.

4 . The force sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible structure component has a translucent material through which the sensed light ray is an ambient light ray transmitted from an outer surface of the flexible structure component to an inner surface of the flexible structure component, and the force sensor device is to be disposed on a still system.

5 . The force sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light emitting circuit, disposed in the chamber, for emitting the light ray to an inner surface of the flexible structure component; wherein the optical sensor is arranged for sensing the light ray reflected from the inner surface of the flexible structure component to generate the at least one differential image; and, the force sensor device is to be disposed on either a still system or a moving system.

6 . The force sensor device of claim 5 , wherein the flexible structure component has an opaque material which is used for reflecting the light ray to the optical sensor.

7 . The force sensor device of claim 6 , wherein an identification element is formed on the inner surface of the flexible structure component.

8 . The force sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible structure component is a hemisphere made by a rubber film material.

9 . A method of a force sensor device, comprising:
providing a first structure component; providing an optical sensor having pixel units and disposed on the first structure component; using a flexible structure component having a convex portion, the flexible structure component assembled with the first structure component to form a chamber in which the optical sensor is disposed; sensing light ray transmitted from the flexible structure component to at least one pixel unit to generate at least one differential image; and detecting a user's control force applied for the flexible structure component according to the at least one differential image; wherein the at least one differential image is at least one temporal differential image, generated from successive pixel values of a single pixel unit, or is at least one spatial differential image, generated based on temporal differential images of at least two neighboring pixel units.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the detecting step comprises:
using the optical sensor to detect a displacement, a size, or a shape of the at least one differential image to determine a coordination position, a magnitude, or a direction of the user's control force applied for the flexible structure component.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one pixel unit used for determining whether to generate the at least one temporal differential image by sensing a pixel difference between the successive pixel values.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flexible structure component has a translucent material through which the sensed light ray is an ambient light ray transmitted from an outer surface of the flexible structure component to an inner surface of the flexible structure component, and the force sensor device is to be disposed on a still system.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
using a light emitting circuit disposed in the chamber to emit the light ray to an inner surface of the flexible structure component; and using the optical sensor to sense the light ray reflected from the inner surface of the flexible structure component to generate the at least one differential image; wherein the force sensor device is to be disposed on either a still system or a moving system.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the flexible structure component has an opaque material which is used for reflecting the light ray to the optical sensor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing an identification element to be formed on the inner surface of the flexible structure component.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flexible structure component is a hemisphere made by a rubber film material.

Assignees

• Pixart Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Yang Tien-Chung
• Chiu Yi-Cheng
• Chang Cheng-Chih
• Chiu Jui-Te
• Chen Yi-Chung

Classifications

• G06F3/0304 Primary

  Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042) · CPC title

• H03K17/941

  using an optical detector (H03K17/968 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0425

  using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386) · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F3/038

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title