Optical displacement detection over varied surfaces

• US 7,898,524 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Chauvin, Nicolas, Theytaz, Olivier, Sasselli, Nicolas, Karamata, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, DOROTHY H
• Application Number:
  US11/471,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 345/166
• 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 the present invention enable an optical device to track on a diffusing surface over which a transparent and/or translucent and/or optically smooth surface is placed. Some embodiments are directed towards detecting when an optical device is lifted off the surface it was resting on. Embodiments also include a sensing system that detects the z distance (distance to the tracking surface) and improves image quality by improving the effectiveness of the optical sensor subsystem and/or the illumination subsystem at the detected z distance. Other embodiments include a system and method that enables an optical device to track on a transparent and/or translucent and/or optically smooth surface alone. This may involve dark-field imaging based on certain features (e.g., dirt) already present on the transparent surface. Alternately, this may involve creating features such as droplets, spreading dirt residue, and creating thermal spots, which can be used for tracking.

Claims

1. A dark-field optical displacement detection system for use in an optical input device capable of tracking motion of the optical input device relative to a glass surface, a top of the glass surface having features thereon, the dark-field optical displacement detection system comprising:

an illumination subsystem comprising a light source for illuminating the glass surface;

a lens positioned to collect at least some diffracted light from the features on the top of the glass surface, but not the zero order light reflected from the glass surface, wherein the features are not sufficient to enable tracking movement of the optical input device using conventional methods used for optically rough surfaces; and

a detector optically coupled to the lens to receive the at least some diffracted light wherein the dark-field optical displacement detection system tracks motion relative to the top of the glass surface, and not relative to an optically rough surface underneath the glass surface.

2. The dark-field optical system of claim 1, wherein the illumination subsystem comprises N light sources.

3. The dark-field optical system of claim 2, wherein the N light sources are spatially incoherent.

4. The dark-field optical system of claim 1, wherein the illumination subsystem comprises a laser diode and a diffractive optical element to provide a uniform radial illumination.

5. The dark-field optical system of claim 1, wherein the illumination subsystem comprises a diffractive optical element and a mirror to provide a uniform radial illumination.

6. The dark field optical system of claim 2, where the N light sources are equally spaced.

7. The dark-field optical system of claim 2, wherein one of the N light sources illuminates the glass surface at a first angle and a second of the N light sources illuminates the glass surface at a second angle.

8. The dark-field optical displacement detection system of claim 1, wherein the light source is coherent.

9. The dark-field optical displacement detection system of claim 1, wherein the features are dirt residue.

10. The dark-field optical displacement detection system of claim 1, wherein the features are droplets of a liquid.

11. An optical displacement detection system for use in an optical input device capable of tracking on a surface comprising a glass layer having features thereon, and a second layer of a material below the glass layer that scatters at least some light, the optical displacement detection system comprising:

a coherent light source for illuminating the glass layer and the second layer by an illumination beam;

a lens configured to collect at least some scattered light from the features on top of the glass layer, but not zero order light specularly reflected from the glass layer, and at least some scattered light from the second layer; and

a detector optically coupled to the lens for receiving the at least some scattered light from the features on the glass layer and the at least some scattered light from the second layer, wherein the features are not sufficient to enable tracking movement of the optical input device using conventional methods used for optically rough surfaces, wherein the dark-field optical displacement detection system tracks motion relative to the top of the glass surface, and not relative to the second layer underneath the glass layer.

12. The optical displacement detection system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second light source for illuminating the glass layer and the second layer.

13. The optical displacement detection system of claim 11, wherein the detector uses at least one of a first signal obtained from the glass layer and a second signal obtained from the second layer to detect displacement.

14. A method for optically detecting displacement on a glass surface and an optically rough surface at different times, the method comprising:

at a first time, upon being placed on the glass surface, receiving a signal based upon at least some diffracted light from features on top of the glass a surface, but not zero order light specularly reflected from the glass surface, and detecting displacement relative to the top of the glass surface; and

at a second time, upon being placed on the optically rough surface, receiving a signal based upon at least some scattered light from the optically rough surface, and detecting displacement relative to the optically rough surface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

illuminating the glass surface at the first time and the optically rough surface at the second time, with a plurality of light sources.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

illuminating the glass surface at the first time and the optically rough surface at the second time, with a light source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the light source is coherent.

18. A method for optically detecting displacement on a surface comprising a first layer of a transparent material, and a second layer of a material below the first layer that scatters at least some light, the method comprising:

illuminating the first layer and the second layer with a light source;

receiving at least some scattered light from certain features on top of the first layer, but not zero order light specularly reflected from the first layer; and

detecting displacement based on the received scattered light, wherein the optical input device tracks motion relative to the top of the first layer and not relative to the second layer.