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US4737625A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Arrangement structure of plural rows of overlapping optical elements

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-05-19
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Granted: 1988-04-12
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Expires: 2006-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract An arrangement structure of optical elements is characterized in that light emitting and/or light receiving optical elements are mounted on a substrate in a zigzag fashion, whereby the resolving power of the arrangement can be enhanced.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroaki Sasaki
  • 👤 Kazuo Hasegawa
  • 👤 Junichi Ouchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 18:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
An array structure of optical elements for forming a light beam matrix in an optical input device, comprising: an elongated mounting substrate for mounting a plurality of optical elements on at least one side of said input device, wherein each optical element has a predetermined width in the direction of the length of said substrate; and said plurality of optical elements being arranged in plural parallel rows along the length of said substrate, wherein the optical elements in each row are spaced apart at equal intervals, and the spacing intervals of the plural rows of optical elements are selected such that the width of each optical element in any row overlaps the width of at least one other optical element in at least one other row, whereby a fine degree of resolving power of said matrix is obtained for inputting a smooth curve of points.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
An array structure of optical elements for forming a light beam matrix in an optical input device, comprising: an elongated mounting substrate for mounting a plurality of optical elements on at least one side of said input device, wherein each optical element has a predetermined width in the direction of the length of said substrate; and said plurality of optical elements being arranged in plural parallel rows along the length of said substrate, wherein the optical elements in each row are spaced apart at equal intervals, and the spacing intervals of the plural rows of optical elements are selected such that the width of each optical element in any row overlaps the width of at least one other optical element in at least one other row, whereby a fine degree of resolving power of said matrix is obtained for inputting a smooth curve of points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
An array structure according to claim 1, wherein said optical elements are arranged in three adjacent rows with spacings forming a triangular configuration in which each optical element is arranged to abut two other optical elements in the adjacent row or rows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An arrangement structure of optical elements according to claim 1, wherein said optical elements are LEDs and/or phototransistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
An arrangement structure of optical elements according to claim 1, wherein said optical elements are arranged so as to abut one another in an adjacent row.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3060791A Cited
US3737856A Cited
US3727069A Cited
US3781842A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-04-12 1991-10-12 1992-04-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-04-12 1995-10-12 1996-04-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-04-12 1999-10-12 2000-04-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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