Wireless Optical Input Device

• US 20090027341A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Piot, Julien, Arrigo, Simone, Zahnd, Daniel A., Kehlstadt, Florian
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless input device that employs optical sensing to effect the likes of cursor movement and scrolling. Power management techniques can be optionally employed to avoid premature depletion of the wireless input device'"'"'s power source. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless device having a power management algorithm controlling its power consumption. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing the power consumption of a wireless device.

Claims

1. An optical sensing assembly for a computer input device configured to receive power from a self-contained power source, the optical sensing assembly comprising:

a photo-sensitive element configured to receive reflected light from a light source to produce a first image data associated with a first image and a second image data associated with a second image;

an image data processing logic coupled to the photo-sensitive element for receiving the image data and configured to detect activity based on the image data and to qualify detected activity as false activity based on a pattern of past activity; and

a power control logic operatively coupled to the image data processing logic and configured to implement a native power control mode wherein an internal algorithm changes the power consumption of the optical sensing assembly from a full power mode to one or more lower power modes based on the image data.

2. The optical sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the photo-sensitive element is one of a CCD array or a photo diode.

3. The optical sensing assembly of claim 2, wherein the photo-sensitive element is a CCD array having a set of pixels and the image data comprises a bit vector corresponding to a set of states of the set of pixels.

4. The optical sensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a focusing lens coupled to the photo-sensitive element for focusing the reflected light to the photo-sensitive element.

5. The optical sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the image data processing logic is further configured to translate the image difference data to one of position data or displacement distance data.

6. A method for detecting movement with a photo sensing device configured to receive power from a self-contained power source, the method comprising:

determining image difference data from differences between the first image data and the second image data;

detecting activity based on the image difference data and determining that the detected activity comprises false activity based on a pattern of past activity; and

implementing a native power control mode wherein an internal algorithm changes the power consumption of the photo-sensing device from a full power mode to one or more lower power modes based on the image difference data and the determination that the detected activity comprises false activity.