Method and arrangement for tracking movement relative to a surface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of tracking movement relative of an optical mouse to a surface, comprising:
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated surface; and
providing circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for examining the first array of data elements to determine whether or not a characteristic condition exists in the first array of data elements;
for capturing a second array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a second time, and for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if it is determined, from the examination of the first array of data elements, that the characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a method of tracking movement relative to a surface involves comparing at least some data elements of a first array with at least some of data elements of a second array if it is determined, from an examination of the first array of data elements, that a characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of tracking movement relative of an optical mouse to a surface, comprising:
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated surface; and
providing circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for examining the first array of data elements to determine whether or not a characteristic condition exists in the first array of data elements;
for capturing a second array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a second time, and for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if it is determined, from the examination of the first array of data elements, that the characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
6. A method of tracking movement of an optical mouse, comprising:
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors responsive to light reflected from irregular surfaces on the illuminated surface; and
providing circuitry for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing light reflected from the irregular surfaces at a first time with light reflected there from at a second time unless it is determined by an examination of an array of data elements produced in response to the light reflected at the first time that light detected by at least a majority of the photo detectors at the first time is at least nearly uniform. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
7. A method of tracking movement of an optical mouse relative to a surface, comprising:
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors responsive to light reflected from irregular surfaces located on the illuminated surface; and
providing circuitry for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing light reflected from the irregular surfaces located on the surface at a first time with light reflected there from at a second time unless it is determined by an examination of an array of data elements produced in response to the light reflected at the first time that light detected by the photo detectors at the first time does not represent a focused image of at least some of the irregular surfaces located on the surface.
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
11. A method of tracking movement of an optical mouse, comprising:
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated surface; and
providing circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for examining the first array of data elements to determine whether or not a characteristic condition exists in the first array of data elements;
for capturing a second array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a second time, and for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if it is determined, from the examination of the first array of data elements, that the characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to a representation of a focused image in the data elements of the first array. - View Dependent Claims (12)
- providing a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
13. An imaging and navigation arrangement for an optical mouse, comprising:
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated surface; and
circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for examining the first array of data elements to determine whether or not a characteristic condition exists in the first array of data elements;
for capturing a second array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a second time, and for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if it is determined, from the examination of the first array of data elements, that the characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
14. An imaging and navigation arrangement for an optical mouse, comprising:
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
a two dimensional array of photo detectors responsive to light reflected from irregular surfaces on the illuminated surface; and
circuitry for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing light reflected from the irregular surfaces at a first time with light reflected there from at a second time unless it is determined by an examination of an array of data elements produced in response to the light reflected at the first time that light detected by at least a majority of the photo detectors at the first time is at least nearly uniform.
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
15. An imaging and navigation arrangement for an optical mouse, comprising:
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
a two dimensional array of photo detectors responsive to light reflected from irregular surfaces located on the illuminated surface; and
circuitry for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing light reflected from the irregular surfaces located on the surface at a first time with light reflected there from at a second time unless it is determined by an examination of an array of data elements produced in response to the light reflected at the first time that light detected by the photo detectors at the first time does not represent a focused image of at least some of the features located on the surface.
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
-
16. An imaging and navigation arrangement for an optical mouse, comprising:
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated surface; and
circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for examining the first array of data elements to determine whether or not a characteristic condition exists in the first array of data elements;
for capturing a second array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a second time, and for tracking movement relative to the surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if it is determined, from the examination of the first array of data elements, that the characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to a representation of a focused image in the data elements of the first array.
- a source of non-coherent light for illuminating a surface at a low angle of incidence;
Specification