Circuit and method for reducing power consumption in an optical navigation system having redundant arrays
First Claim
1. An optical navigation system for use in an input device to sense displacement of the input device relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an optical sensor having at least a first array and a second array, each having a plurality of photosensitive elements;
imaging optics to map an illuminated portion of the surface to the optical sensor;
a signal processor including a first sensor circuit coupled to the first array and a second sensor circuit coupled to the second array to generate from each array a set of signals in response to motion of light received thereon; and
a control circuit capable of independently switching power to the first and second sensor circuits to reduce power consumption in the optical navigation system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit and method are provided for reducing power consumption in an optical navigation system for use in an input device to sense displacement of the device relative to a surface. Generally, the system includes: (i) an optical sensor having at least first and second arrays of photosensitive elements; (ii) imaging optics to map an illuminated portion of the surface to the optical sensor; (iii) a signal processor including a first and second sensor circuits coupled to the respective first and second arrays to generate from each array a set of signals in response to motion of light received thereon; and (iv) a control circuit capable of independently switching power to the sensor circuits. In one embodiment, the control circuit powers down one sensor circuit when the strength of the set of signals from the other is greater than a predetermined minimum thereby maintaining device performance. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
92 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical navigation system for use in an input device to sense displacement of the input device relative to a surface, the system comprising:
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an optical sensor having at least a first array and a second array, each having a plurality of photosensitive elements; imaging optics to map an illuminated portion of the surface to the optical sensor; a signal processor including a first sensor circuit coupled to the first array and a second sensor circuit coupled to the second array to generate from each array a set of signals in response to motion of light received thereon; and a control circuit capable of independently switching power to the first and second sensor circuits to reduce power consumption in the optical navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optical navigation system for use in an input device to sense displacement of the input device relative to a surface, the system comprising:
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an illuminator to illuminate a portion of the surface; an optical sensor adapted to sense motion of light received thereon; imaging optics to map an illuminated portion of the surface to the optical sensor; and a gain control circuit including a number of photosensitive detectors and gain control logic coupled to the number of photosensitive detectors, the gain control logic configured to sample a signal from the number of photosensitive detectors and adjust illumination from the illuminator in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of reducing power consumption in an optical navigation system used in an input device to sense displacement of the input device relative to a surface, the method comprising steps of
mapping an illuminated portion of the surface to an optical sensor having at least a first and a second array, each array having a plurality of photosensitive elements; -
generating from each array a set of signals in response to motion of light received thereon using a signal processor including a first sensor circuit coupled to the first array and a second sensor circuit coupled to the second array; and switching off power to one of the first and second sensor circuits to reduce power consumption in the optical navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification