Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080288205 | OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH SURFACE AND FREE SPACE NAVIGATION - An optical navigation device for operation in a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode is described. One embodiment of the optical navigation device includes a microcontroller, a surface navigation sensor, and a free space navigation sensor. The surface and free space navigation sensors are coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to process a movement of the optical navigation device. The surface navigation sensor is configured to generate a surface navigation signal in response to a surface navigation image. The free space navigation sensor is configured to generate a free space navigation signal in response to a free space navigation image. Embodiments of the optical navigation device facilitate an integrated optical solution to provide desktop navigation and scene navigation in a single optical navigation device. | 11-20-2008 |
20090140984 | SELF-CALIBRATING OPTICAL FEEDBACK SYSTEM IN A LASER MOUSE - A self-calibrating optical feedback system for an optical navigation device. The self-calibrating optical feedback system includes a light source, an illumination lens, a beam splitter, and an optical feedback device. The illumination lens is coupled relative to the light source. The light source emits light based on a programming current. The illumination lens directs the light towards a beam splitter. The beam splitter partially reflects the light directed from the illumination lens. The optical feedback device detects the partially reflected light from the beam splitter and generates a feedback signal to modify an intensity of the light emitted by the light source. Embodiments of the self-calibrating optical feedback system maintain the output intensity of a laser driven optical navigation device below an eye-safety level. | 06-04-2009 |
20090262368 | LIGHT PIPE FOR LOW PROFILE OPTICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS - A light pipe for an optical navigation system. The light pipe includes a collection surface, a collimation surface, and a reflective surface. The collection surface is to accept incident light into the light pipe from a light source. The collimation surface is to collimate the light and to direct the collimated light to a navigation plane for detection by a navigation sensor. The reflective surface is between the collection surface and the collimation surface and is to reflect the light along a reflective path as the light travels within the light pipe from the collection surface to the collimation surface. The reflective surface has a curved geometry oriented substantially along the path of travel of the light through the light pipe. The curved geometry of the reflective path facilitates convergence of the light with respect to a first axis. | 10-22-2009 |
20100078545 | LENSLESS USER INPUT DEVICE WITH OPTICAL INTERFERENCE - An optical navigation device which uses optical interference to generate navigation images. The optical navigation device includes an optical element, a light source, a sensor array, a navigation engine, and a light shield. The optical element includes a finger interface surface. The light source includes a laser in optical communication with the finger interface surface to provide light to the finger interface surface. The sensor array detects light reflected from the finger interface surface in response to contact between a finger and the finger interface surface. The navigation engine is coupled to the sensor array. The navigation engine generates lateral movement information based on lateral movement of the finger relative to the sensor array. The light shield is between the optical element and the sensor array. The light shield includes an aperture linearly aligned with the sensor array. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079408 | USER INPUT DEVICE WITH PLANAR LIGHT GUIDE ILLUMINATION PLATE - A user input device to generate an optical navigation signal based on an edge-lit pattern. The user input device includes an optical element, a light source, a sensor array, and a navigation engine. The optical element includes a finger interface surface. At least a portion of the optical element exhibits total internal reflection (TIR). The light source provides light to the finger interface surface. The sensor array detects light reflected from the finger interface surface in response to contact between a finger and the finger interface surface. The contact between the finger and the finger interface surface disrupts the TIR and causes light to be reflected out of the optical element towards the sensor array. The navigation engine generates lateral movement information, which is indicative of lateral movement of the finger relative to the sensor array, in response to the detected light. | 04-01-2010 |