DIFFUSE OPTICS IN AN OPTICAL MOUSE

• US 20090160772A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David, DePue, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/960,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of diffuse optics in an optical mouse are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical mouse comprises a light source configured to emit light toward a tracking surface, an image sensor, an optical diffuser disposed optically upstream of the tracking surface and configured to diffuse light from the light source that illuminates the tracking surface, and a controller configured to receive image data from the image sensor and to identify a tracking feature in the image data.

Claims

1. An optical mouse, comprising:

a light source configured to emit light toward a tracking surface;

an image sensor;

an optical diffuser disposed optically upstream of the tracking surface and configured to diffuse light from the light source that illuminates the tracking surface; and

a controller configured to receive image data from the image sensor and to identify a tracking feature in the image data.

2. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the optical diffuser is incorporated as part of the light source.

3. The optical mouse of claim 1, further comprising a lens disposed between the light source and the tracking surface, and wherein the optical diffuser comprises a diffusing surface on the lens.

4. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the optical diffuser is provided as a dedicated optical element separate from the light source and any lenses.

5. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode configured to emit blue light.

6. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode configured to emit white light.

7. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

8. The optical mouse of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect light in a specular portion of a distribution of light reflected from the tracking surface.

9. An optical mouse, comprising:

a light-emitting diode configured to emit light having a wavelength in or near a blue region of a visible light spectrum toward a tracking surface;

an image sensor configured to detect light in a specular portion of a distribution of light reflected from the tracking surface;

one or more lenses configured to form an image of the tracking surface on the image sensor;

an optical diffuser disposed optically upstream of the tracking surface and configured to diffuse light from the light source that illuminates the tracking surface; and

a controller configured to receive image data from the image sensor and to identify a tracking feature in the image data.

10. The optical mouse of claim 9, wherein the optical diffuser is incorporated as part of the light source.

11. The optical mouse of claim 9, wherein the light source is configured to emit white light.

12. The optical mouse of claim 9, further comprising a lens disposed between the light source and the tracking surface, and wherein the optical diffuser comprises a diffusing surface on the lens.

13. The optical mouse of claim 9, wherein the optical diffuser is provided as a separate optical element from the light source and any lenses.

14. The optical mouse of claim 9, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect light in a specular portion of a distribution of light reflected from the tracking surface.

15. A method of tracking motion of an optical mouse, comprising:

directing a diffuse incident beam of light toward a tracking surface;

capturing a plurality of time-sequenced images of the tracking surface with an image sensor;

locating a tracking feature in the plurality of time-sequenced images of the tracking surface; and

tracking changes in location of the tracking feature across the plurality of time-sequenced images of the tracking surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein directing the incident beam of light toward the tracking surface comprises directing an incident beam of blue light toward the tracking surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein directing the incident beam of light toward the tracking surface comprises directing an incident beam of white light toward the tracking surface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the beam of light is diffused via an optical diffuser incorporated in a light source.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the beam of light is diffused via a lens with a diffusing surface.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the beam of light is diffused via a dedicated light diffuser disposed between the light source and the tracking surface.