Finger devices with self-mixing interferometric proximity sensors
US11940293B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2021 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2203/0331
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system may include one or more finger devices that gather input from a user's fingers. A finger device may include one or more self-mixing interferometric proximity sensors that measure a distance to the user's finger. The proximity sensor may measure changes in distance between the proximity sensor and a flexible membrane that rests against a side portion of the user's finger. The self-mixing interferometric proximity sensor may include a laser and a photodiode. In some arrangements, a single laser driver may drive the lasers of multiple self-mixing proximity sensors using time-multiplexing. The self-mixing proximity sensor may operate according to a duty cycle. Interpolation and stitching may be used to determine the total displacement of the user's finger including both the on periods and off periods of the self-mixing proximity sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.