Optical navigation module with capacitive sensor
First Claim
1. An optical navigation module comprising:
- a light source to illuminate at least a portion of a surface of a finger relative to which the optical navigation module is moved;
an integrated circuit (IC) including a photo-detector array (PDA) to detect a light pattern propagated onto the PDA from the surface of the finger, and a signal processor to translate changes in the light pattern propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface of the finger;
a circuit board to which the light source and IC are mounted, the circuit board including an aperture in a light path between the surface of the finger and the PDA;
a capacitive sensor on the circuit board configured to detect a lift height between the surface of the finger and the optical navigation module, the IC and PDA are further configured to detect ambient light when the lift height exceeds a maximum lift height; and
a controller electrically coupled to the capacitive sensor, IC and PDA configured to switch from a first mode of operation interrupting data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface, to a second mode of operation and enabling measuring and reporting of ambient light by the IC and PDA when the lift height exceeds a maximum lift height.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical navigation modules and methods of operating the same to sense relative movement between the optical navigation module and a tracking surface are provided. In one embodiment, the optical navigation module comprises: (i) a light source to illuminate at least a portion of a surface relative to which the optical navigation module is moved; (ii) an integrated circuit (IC) including a photo-detector array (PDA) to detect a light pattern propagated onto the PDA from the surface, and a signal processor to translate changes in the light pattern propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface; and (iii) a substrate to which the light source and IC are mounted, the substrate including an aperture in a light path between the surface and the PDA. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical navigation module comprising:
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a light source to illuminate at least a portion of a surface of a finger relative to which the optical navigation module is moved; an integrated circuit (IC) including a photo-detector array (PDA) to detect a light pattern propagated onto the PDA from the surface of the finger, and a signal processor to translate changes in the light pattern propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface of the finger; a circuit board to which the light source and IC are mounted, the circuit board including an aperture in a light path between the surface of the finger and the PDA; a capacitive sensor on the circuit board configured to detect a lift height between the surface of the finger and the optical navigation module, the IC and PDA are further configured to detect ambient light when the lift height exceeds a maximum lift height; and a controller electrically coupled to the capacitive sensor, IC and PDA configured to switch from a first mode of operation interrupting data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface, to a second mode of operation and enabling measuring and reporting of ambient light by the IC and PDA when the lift height exceeds a maximum lift height. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating an optical navigation module comprising:
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illuminating with a light source in the optical navigation module at least a portion of a surface relative to which the optical navigation module is moved; detecting a pattern in light propagated from the surface onto a photo-detector array (PDA) in an integrated circuit (IC) of the optical navigation module; and translating with a signal processor in the IC changes in a pattern of light propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface, wherein the light source and IC are mounted to a circuit board including an aperture, and wherein detecting the pattern in light propagated from the surface onto the PDA comprises detecting the pattern in light propagated from the surface from through the aperture and onto the PDA, wherein the surface comprises a surface of a finger, and further comprising detecting with a capacitive sensor on the circuit board a lift height between the surface of the finger and the optical navigation module, and when the surface of the finger is detected by the capacitive sensor, and motion between the surface of the finger and the optical navigation module is not, enabling auto scrolling in which previous data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface is continued until the surface of a finger is lifted or motion between the surface of the finger and the optical navigation module is again detected. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical navigation module comprising:
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a light source to illuminate at least a portion of a surface relative to which the optical navigation module is moved; and an integrated circuit (IC) including a photo-detector array (PDA) to detect a light pattern propagated onto the PDA from the surface; a signal processor to translate changes in the light pattern propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface; a substrate overlying and affixed to the IC, wherein the substrate comprises an optically opaque material and is patterned to form an aperture in a light path between the surface and the PDA; a capacitive sensor configured to detect a lift height between the surface and the optical navigation module; and a controller electrically coupled to the capacitive sensor and IC, the controller programmable to specify a maximum lift height at which the optical navigation module can track due to variations in roughness or pigmentation of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification