Electronic device with waterproof structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958298-B2
Application number	US-201615178098-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device with waterproof structure includes an assembly and a manipulation member movably disposed on an outer surface of the assembly. The assembly includes a case and an optical detection module. The case defines a waterproof space and has a translucent region. The optical detection module is arranged in the waterproof space. The optical detection module has a lighting unit and a sensor array. Light emitted from the lighting unit enables to travel out of the waterproof space by penetrating through the translucent region. At least part of the manipulation member is corresponding in position to the translucent region. The lighting unit is configured to emit light onto the manipulation member, and the sensor array is configured to receive the light reflected from the manipulation member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device with a waterproof structure, comprising:
an assembly, comprising:
a case having a translucent region, wherein an enclosed waterproof space is defined by the case; and
an optical detection module arranged in the waterproof space, wherein the optical detection module has a lighting unit and a sensor array arranged close to the lighting unit, the translucent region is located in a lighting path of the lighting unit, and the lighting unit is configured to emit light to penetrate out of the waterproof space via the translucent region; and

a manipulation member movably disposed on an outer surface of the case and arranged outside the waterproof space, wherein at least part of the manipulation member is corresponding in position to the translucent region and has a symbol portion, and the manipulation member is movable with respect to the translucent region between an initial position and an adjusting position;
wherein the lighting unit is configured to selectively emit light to arrive on the manipulation member by passing through the translucent region, and the manipulation member is configured to reflect the light emitted from the lighting unit to arrive on the sensor array by passing through the translucent region; at least two different receivers of the sensor array are configured to receive light reflected from the symbol portion of the manipulation member when the manipulation member is arranged at the initial position and the adjusting position.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device does not comprise any light guiding member arranged between the optical detection module and the manipulation member, and the lighting unit is configured to emit light to directly pass through the translucent region.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the manipulation member corresponding in position to light emitted from the lighting unit reflects light to travel in different paths because of a roughness difference thereof, and the portion of the manipulation member does not have any pattern formed on it.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the manipulation member is substantially symmetrical to a central axis, and the manipulation member is configured to move into the central axis and/or to rotate around the central axis when the manipulation member is adjusted between the initial position and the adjusting position.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an accommodating trough is recessed on the outer surface of the case, the translucent region is arranged on the accommodating trough; the electronic device further comprises an elastic component arranged on a bottom of the accommodating trough, the manipulation member is inserted into the accommodating trough to abut against the elastic component.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the manipulation member has a controlling segment and an active segment connected to the controlling segment, an outer diameter of the controlling segment is greater than that of the active segment, the active segment is inserted into the accommodating trough to abut against the elastic component, the controlling segment is at least partially arranged out of the accommodating trough; the electronic device further comprises a gasket sleeved at the active segment, two opposite surfaces of the gasket respectively abut against the controlling segment and the case, and the controlling segment and the gasket are configured to generate a friction force there-between when the controlling segment is rotated with respect to the case.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the gasket abuts against the case and the active segment for sealing the accommodating trough.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the manipulation member has a light guiding path, the manipulation member is configured to receive an external light from outside of the electronic device, wherein the external light is guided toward the sensor array by traveling in the light guiding path and then passing through the translucent region.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the light guiding path has at least one light outlet, the manipulation member is configured to guide the external light toward the sensor array to leave out by the light guiding path via the at least one light outlet and then passing through the translucent region when the manipulation member is arranged at the initial position or the adjusting position.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein after the external light passes through the at least one light outlet and the translucent region, the external light arrives on the sensor array to form a light spot, and the light spot is smaller than or identical to a sensing area of the sensor array.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein after the external light passes through the at least one light outlet and the translucent region, the external light arrives on the sensor array to form a light spot, and the light spot is greater than a sensing area of the sensor array.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical detection module is a package structure and has a calculating unit electrically connected to the sensor array, the calculating unit is configured to estimate a moving trace of the manipulation member according to an information of the sensor array corresponding to the received light.

13. An electronic device with a waterproof structure, comprising:
an assembly, comprising:
a case having a translucent region, wherein a waterproof space is defined by the case; and
an optical detection module arranged in the waterproof space, wherein the optical detection module has a lighting unit and a sensor array, the lighting unit is configured to emit light to penetrate out of the waterproof space via the translucent region; and

a manipulation member movably disposed on an outer surface of the case, wherein at least part of the manipulation member is corresponding in position to the translucent region, the lighting unit is configured to selectively emit light to arrive on the manipulation member by passing through the translucent region, and the manipulation member is configured to reflect the light emitted from the lighting unit to arrive on the sensor array by passing through the translucent region.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the electronic device does not comprise any light guiding member arranged between the optical detection module and the manipulation member, and the lighting unit is configured to emit light to directly pass through the translucent region.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein an accommodating trough is recessed on the outer surface of the case, the translucent region is arranged on the accommodating trough; the electronic device further comprises an elastic component arranged on a bottom of the accommodating trough, the manipulation member is inserted into the accommodating trough to abut against the elastic component.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the manipulation member has a controlling segment and an active segment connected to the controlling segment, an outer diameter of the controlling segment is greater than that of the active segment, the active segment is inserted into the accommodating trough to abut against the elastic component, the controlling segment is at least partially arranged out of the accommodating trough; the ele

Assignees

• Pixart Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Yang Jr-Shen
• Chung Ching-Lin
• Chang Yen-Min

Classifications

• G01D5/34

  the beams of light being detected by photocells · CPC title

• G01D5/28 Primary

  with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication (G01D5/40 takes precedence; {mechanical adjustment G01D5/264}) · CPC title

• G04F3/08

  Additional arrangements in connection with ordinary electric clocks for this purpose · CPC title

• G04G21/08 Primary

  Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces · CPC title

• G04C3/005 Primary

  Multiple switches (G04C3/004 takes precedence) · CPC title