Optical Mouse
First Claim
1. In a device for controlling the position of a visual display cursor, wherein the device is movable in a plane defined by two non-parallel axes and having a surface pattern of relatively light and dark areas separated by optical edges and having means responsive to the motion of the device on the surface pattern relative to the two non-parallel axes to produce signals representing a direction of motion for the cursor, the improvement wherein the means comprises:
- means for optically sensing the surface pattern comprising a plurality (N) of prechargeable photon sensors disposed in a single row along each axis,means for periodically sensing the presence of an edge in at least one preselected portion of each row of sensors to define a sensor state for each axis for each period, comprising means for precharging the sensors every period and object detecting means for storing the state of each of P groups of Q sensors in each period, where P×
Q=N, when R adjacent sensors in each of the P groups discharge below a given threshold and where R<
Q andmotion detecting means for each axis and independent of the other axis for determining if movement has occurred relative to each axis and comprising means for scanning the state of each set of S adjacent sensors in each of the P groups of Q sensors where S<
Q, means for comparing the sets of adjacent sensors for successive states and means for producing a separate direction signal for each axis from the comparisons.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for converting movement of an optical mouse on a surface having any random surface pattern of relatively light and dark areas separated by edges to electrical signals representing a direction of motion relative to two non-parallel axes. A plurality of prechargeable photon sensors are disposed on the mouse in a row along each axis and facing the surface periodically. The presence of an edge is periodically sensed in at least one preselected portion of each row of sensors, defining a sensor state for each axis for each period upon the sensing of an absence of an edge. Successive sensor states are compared to determine if movement has occurred relative to each axis and a signal representative of the movement determined is produced.
174 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a device for controlling the position of a visual display cursor, wherein the device is movable in a plane defined by two non-parallel axes and having a surface pattern of relatively light and dark areas separated by optical edges and having means responsive to the motion of the device on the surface pattern relative to the two non-parallel axes to produce signals representing a direction of motion for the cursor, the improvement wherein the means comprises:
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means for optically sensing the surface pattern comprising a plurality (N) of prechargeable photon sensors disposed in a single row along each axis, means for periodically sensing the presence of an edge in at least one preselected portion of each row of sensors to define a sensor state for each axis for each period, comprising means for precharging the sensors every period and object detecting means for storing the state of each of P groups of Q sensors in each period, where P×
Q=N, when R adjacent sensors in each of the P groups discharge below a given threshold and where R<
Q andmotion detecting means for each axis and independent of the other axis for determining if movement has occurred relative to each axis and comprising means for scanning the state of each set of S adjacent sensors in each of the P groups of Q sensors where S<
Q, means for comparing the sets of adjacent sensors for successive states and means for producing a separate direction signal for each axis from the comparisons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17)
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11. A method for converting movement of an object in a plane, defined by two non-parallel axes and having a surface pattern of relatively light and dark areas separated by optical edges, to electrical signals representing a direction of motion relative to the two non-parallel axes, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a plurality (N) of prechargeable photon sensors on the object in a single row along each axis and facing the surface pattern, periodically sensing the presence of an edge in at least one preselected portion of each row of sensors by precharging the sensors every period and detecting an object by storing the state of each of P groups of Q sensors in each period, where P×
Q=N, when R adjacent sensors in each of the P groups discharge below a given threshold and where R<
Q,defining a sensor state for each axis for each period upon the sensing of the presence of an edge, and detecting motion relative to each axis independent of the other axis and producing a direction signal for each axis representative of the movement determined by scanning the state of each set of S adjacent sensors in each of the P groups of Q sensors where S<
Q, comparing the sets of adjacent sensors for successive states and producing the direction signal for each axis from the comparisons. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification