Displacement detection device with no hovering function and computer system including the same

• US 9,310,903 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Song, Willie, Lim, Kevin Len-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONYEKABA, AMY
• Application Number:
  US14/100,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A displacement detection device includes an image sensor, a processing unit and an output unit. The image sensor is configured to detect reflected light from a working surface to successively output image frames. The processing unit is configured to identify a hovering height and calculate a first axis displacement and a second axis displacement according to the image frames. The output unit is controlled by the processing unit to output a first ratio of the first axis displacement but not to output the second axis displacement when the hovering height is higher than a predetermined height.

Claims

1. A displacement detection device, configured to perform contact operation or hovering operation on a working surface, the displacement detection device comprising:

an image sensor configured to detect reflected light from the working surface and successively output image frames; and

a processing unit configured to

identify a contact mode or a hovering mode,

calculate a first axis displacement and a second axis displacement according to the image frames,

output the first axis displacement and the second axis displacement in full scale in the contact mode and

output a first ratio of the first axis displacement and a second ratio of the second axis displacement in the hovering mode,

wherein the second ratio is different from the first ratio, and the first ratio is 50%-100%.

2. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hovering mode comprises a first height range and a second height range,

within the first height range, the first ratio is 100% and the second ratio is 50%;

and

within the second height range, the first ratio is 50% and the second ratio is 25%.

3. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first height range is 1 mm-2 mm and the second height range is 2 mm-3 mm.

4. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the contact mode and the hovering mode according to a characteristic value, a brightness distribution or a reflected light intensity in the image frames.

5. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a thermal sensor configured to detect a temperature reading of the working surface, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the contact mode and the hovering mode according to the temperature reading.

6. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to send the first ratio of the first axis displacement and the second ratio of the second axis displacement in a wireless or wired manner.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a displacement detection device, configured to perform hovering operation upon a working surface, the displacement detection device comprising;

an image sensor configured to detect reflected light from the working surface and successively output image frames;

a processing unit configured to identify a hovering mode and calculate a first axis displacement and a second axis displacement according to the image frames; and

an output unit controlled by the processing unit and configured to output a hovering mode signal and output the first axis displacement and the second axis displacement in full scale when entering the hovering mode; and

a host configured to take a first ratio of the first axis displacement as a first control value and a second ratio of the second axis displacement as a second control value when receiving the hovering mode signal,

wherein the second ratio is different from the first ratio, and the first ratio is 50%-100%.

8. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hovering mode comprises a first height range and a second height range,

within the first height range, the first ratio is 100% and the second ratio is 50%;

and

within the second height range, the first ratio is 50% and the second ratio is 25%.

9. The computer system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first height range is 1 mm-2 mm and the second height range is 2 mm-3 mm.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the hovering mode according to a characteristic value, a brightness distribution or a reflected light intensity in the image frames.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a thermal sensor configured to detect a temperature reading of the working surface, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the hovering mode according to the temperature reading.

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first control value and the second control value are configured to control a cursor movement or a game parameter.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the output unit is a wireless interface or a wired interface.

14. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the output unit is configured to output the first axis displacement and the second axis displacement with an adjustable report rate.

15. A displacement detection device, operated on a working surface, the displacement detection device comprising:

an image sensor configured to detect reflected light from the working surface and successively output image frames;

a processing unit configured to identify a hovering height and calculate a first axis displacement and a second axis displacement according to the image frames; and

an output unit controlled by the processing unit and configured to output a first ratio of the first axis displacement but not to output the second axis displacement when the hovering height is higher than a predetermined height,

wherein the first ratio is 50%-100%.

16. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first ratio of the first axis displacement is generated by the processing unit.

17. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined height is 1 mm.

18. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 15, wherein when the hovering height is lower than the predetermined height, the output unit is configured to output the first axis displacement and the second axis displacement in full scale.

19. The displacement detection device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the hovering height according to a characteristic value, a brightness distribution, a reflected light intensity in the image frames or a temperature reading of the working surface.