OR RELATING TO OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICES

• US 20110141487A1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stmicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: Stmicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: RAYNOR, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,354,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

An optical navigation device includes a navigation radiation source capable of producing a beam of radiation, and an optical element. The optical navigation device is for identifying movement of an object to thereby enable a control action to be carried out. A sensor is for receiving an image based upon reflected radiation from the navigation radiation source, and at least one illumination radiation source is for illuminating the optical navigation device. The device is operable, in recurrent cycles of at least reset, expose, and readout phases, to activate the at least one illumination radiation source during the reset phase. The reset phase may have the longest duration of the phases.

Claims

1. -48. (canceled)

49. An optical navigation device operable in recurrent cycles of a reset phase, an expose phase, and a readout phase, the optical navigation device comprising:

a navigation radiation source configured to produce a radiation beam;

an optical element in a path of the beam;

a sensor configured to receive an image based upon radiation reflected from an adjacent object in the path of the radiation beam; and

at least one illumination source configured to radiate during the reset phase, the reset phase having a longer duration than the expose phase and the readout phase.

50. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said sensor is configured to be reset to a threshold level during the reset phase, to determine a sensor output level in an absence of light during the calibration phase, to receive the image during the expose phase, and to output the image during the readout phase.

51. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein the duration of the reset phase is at least equal to a sum of durations of the expose phase and the readout phase.

52. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to switch off before an end of the reset phase.

53. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to not activate while said sensor is receiving images indicative of movement of the adjacent object, or while said sensor is receiving images with detectable features.

54. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured such that a duration that said at least one illumination source is activated during each reset phase is variable so as to control illumination intensity.

55. An optical navigation device as in claim 54, wherein the duration that said at least one illumination source is configured to be activated during each reset phase does not alter the duration of said reset phase.

56. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to be controllable.

57. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to be dependent upon a device status.

58. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein the duration of the reset phase, a duration of the expose phase, and a duration of the phase are variable.

59. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a plurality thereof.

60. An optical navigation device as in claim 59, wherein each of said plurality of illumination sources is configured to illuminate a different portion of said navigation device.

61. An optical navigation device in claim 59, wherein each of said plurality of illumination sources is configured to output a different color of visible light.

62. An optical navigation device as in claim 61, wherein said plurality of illumination sources comprises first, second, and third illumination sources configured to output red, green, and blue light, respectively.

63. An optical navigation device as in claim 61, wherein said plurality of illumination sources are configured such that one of said plurality thereof is on at a given time.

64. An optical navigation device as in claim 61, wherein at least two of said plurality of illumination sources are configured to be turned on during the reset phase, such that a ratio of durations that each illumination source is turned on determines perceived illumination color.

65. An optical navigation device as in claim 64, wherein the ratio of durations is controllable.

66. An optical navigation device as in claim 64 wherein the ratio of durations is based upon a device status.

67. An optical navigation device as in claim 64, wherein the ratio of durations is set proportionally;

and wherein an illumination intensity of said plurality of illumination sources is configurable.

68. An optical navigation device as in claim 61, wherein said plurality of illumination sources are configured to achieve a perceived constant illumination intensity for different colors by adjusting an actual illumination intensity to allow for relative sensitivities of a human eye to different colors.

69. An optical navigation device as in claim 68, wherein said plurality of illumination sources are configured to further adjust for different efficiencies in different color illumination sources to achieve the perceived constant illumination intensity.

70. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, further comprising an ambient light detector;

and wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to be turned off when said ambient light detector is activated.

71. An optical navigation device as in claim 49, wherein said sensor comprises an ambient light detector configured to be activated when said at least one illumination source is turned off.

72. An optical navigation device operable a reset phase, an expose phase, and a readout phase, the optical navigation device comprising

a navigation radiation source configured to produce a radiation beam;

an optical element in a path of the radiation beam;

a sensor configured to receive an image based upon radiation reflected from an adjacent object in the path of the radiation beam; and

at least one illumination source configured to radiate during the reset phase, a duration of the reset phase being at least equal to a sum of durations of the expose phase and the readout phase;

said sensor is configured to be reset to a threshold level during the reset phase, to determine a sensor output level in an absence of light during the calibration phase, to receive the image during the expose phase, and to output the image during the readout phase.

73. An optical navigation device as in claim 72, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to switch off before an end of the reset phase.

74. An optical navigation device as in claim 72, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to not activate while said sensor is receiving images indicative of movement of the adjacent object, or while said sensor is receiving images with detectable features.

75. An optical navigation device as in claim 72, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured such that a duration that said at least one illumination source is activated during each reset phase is variable so as to control illumination intensity.

76. A method of controlling illumination of an optical navigation device operable in recurrent cycles of a reset phase, an expose phase, and a readout phase, the method comprising:

producing a radiation beam using at least one illumination source during the reset phase, the reset phase having a longer duration than the expose phase and the readout phase;

sensing a resultant received image based upon reflected radiation from an adjacent object in the path of the radiation beam using a sensor; and

identifying movement of an object to thereby enable a control action to be carried out.

77. A method as in claim 76, wherein the sensor is reset to a threshold level during the reset phase, determines a sensor output level in an absence of light during the calibration phase, receives the image during the expose phase, and outputs the image during the readout phase.

78. A method as in claim 76, wherein the duration of the reset phase is at least equal to a sum of durations of the expose phase and the readout phase.

79. A method as in claim 76, wherein the illumination source is switched off before an end of the reset phase.

80. A method as in claim 76, wherein said at least one illumination source is not activated while the sensor is receiving images indicative of movement of the adjacent object, or while the sensor is receiving images with detectable features.

81. A method as in claim 76, wherein a duration that said at least one illumination source is activated during each reset phase is variable so as to control illumination intensity.

82. A method as in claim 81 wherein the duration that said at least one illumination source is configured to be activated during each reset phase does not alter the duration of the reset phase.

83. A method as in claim 76, wherein the illumination source is selectably controllable.

84. A method as in claim 76, wherein said at least one illumination source is configured to be dependent upon a device status.

85. A method as in claim 76, wherein the duration of the reset phase, a duration of the expose phase, and a duration of the phase are variable.

86. A method as in claim 76, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a plurality thereof.

87. A method as in claim 86, wherein each of said plurality of illumination sources illuminates a different portion of said navigation device.

88. A method as in claim 86, wherein each of said plurality of illumination sources outputs a different color of visible light.

89. A method as in claim 88, wherein said plurality of illumination sources comprises first, second, and third illumination sources configured to output red, green, and blue light, respectively

90. A method as in claim 88, wherein said plurality of illumination sources are configured such that one of said plurality thereof is on at a given time.

91. A method as in claim 88, wherein at least two of said plurality of illumination sources are turned on during the reset phase, such that a ratio of durations that each illumination source is turned on determines perceived illumination color.

92. A method as in claim 91, wherein the ratio of durations is selectably controllable.

93. A method as in claim 91, wherein the ratio of durations is based upon a status of the navigation device.

94. A method as in claim 91, wherein the ratio of durations is set proportionally;

and wherein an illumination intensity of said plurality of illumination sources is selectably configurable.

95. A method as in claim 86, wherein said plurality of illumination sources achieve a perceived constant illumination intensity for different colors by adjusting an actual illumination intensity to allow for relative sensitivities of a human eye to different colors.

96. A method as in claim 95, wherein said plurality of illumination sources further adjust for different efficiencies in different color illumination sources to achieve the perceived constant illumination intensity.

97. A method as in claim 76, wherein the illumination source is to be turned off when an ambient light detector is activated.

98. An electronic device comprising:

an optical navigation device operable in recurrent cycles of a reset phase, an expose phase, and a readout phase, said optical navigation device comprising

a navigation radiation source configured to produce a radiation beam,

an optical element in a path of the radiation beam,

a sensor configured to receive an image based upon radiation reflected from an adjacent object in the past of the radiation beam, and

at least one illumination source configured to radiate during the reset phase, the reset phase having a longer duration than the expose phase and the readout phase.

99. An electronic device as in claim 98, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device.

100. An electronic device as in claim 98, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telecommunications device.

101. An electronic device as in claim 98, wherein the electronic device comprises a remote control device.