Dual mode optical navigation device and mode switching method thereof

• US 9,958,965 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Sai-Mun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONYEKABA, AMY
• Application Number:
  US15/596,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20170249027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

There is provided a mode switching method of a dual mode optical navigation device. The dual mode optical navigation device is configured to be operated on a working surface and has a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface having an included angle with the first bottom surface. The mode switching method includes: determining whether the first bottom surface or the second bottom surface contacts with the working surface; switching the dual mode optical navigation device to a first mode when identifying that the first bottom surface contacts with the working surface; and switching the dual mode optical navigation device to a second mode when identifying that the second bottom surface contacts with the working surface.

Claims

1. A dual mode optical navigation device, configured to operate in a first mode or a second mode on a working surface, the dual mode optical navigation device comprising:

a first bottom surface having a first flat surface;

a second bottom surface having a second flat surface arranged at an angle with respect to the first flat surface of the first bottom surface, wherein the first flat surface of the first bottom surface is configured to be fully contacted with the working surface in the first mode, and the second flat surface of the second bottom surface is configured to be fully contacted with the working surface in the second mode;

a light source configured to illuminate the working surface through the first bottom surface;

an image sensor configured to capture an image frame of the working surface through the first bottom surface; and

a process unit configured to

calculate a ratio of a bright area and a dark area in one image frame,

enter the first mode in response to the calculated ratio being larger than a ratio threshold, and

enter the second mode in response to the calculated ratio being within a ratio threshold range, wherein the ratio threshold range is smaller than the ratio threshold,

wherein the same image sensor is configured to capture the image frame of the working surface through the first bottom surface in both the first mode and the second mode.

2. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mode is a mode for controlling a cursor movement.

3. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode for performing a gesture operation.

4. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a film coating configured to filter out spectrums other than a spectrum of the light source.

5. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second bottom surface is located in at least one of a back end, a left end and a right end of the first bottom surface under the dual mode optical navigation device.

6. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in response to the calculated ratio of the bright area and the dark area being between the ratio threshold and the ratio threshold range, the process unit is configured to not post-process the image frame.

11. The dual mode optical navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second bottom surface is a tilted surface free of any actuator for generating a pressed signal.

7. A mode switching method of a dual mode optical navigation device, the dual mode optical navigation device being operated on a working surface and having a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface, the first bottom surface having a first flat surface arranged at an angle with respect to a second flat surface of the second bottom surface, the mode switching method comprising:

capturing an image frame of a working surface by an image sensor;

determining, using a process unit, whether the first bottom surface or the second bottom surface contacts with the working surface according to a ratio of a bright area and a dark area in one image frame;

in response to the calculated ratio of the bright area and the dark area being larger than a ratio threshold,

switching to a first mode, and

capturing, using the image sensor, image frames of the working surface through the first bottom surface; and

in response to the calculated ratio of the bright area and the dark area being within a ratio threshold range,

switching to a second mode, and

capturing, using the same image sensor, image frames of the working surface through the first bottom surface, wherein

the ratio threshold range is smaller than the ratio threshold,

in the first mode, the first flat surface of the first bottom surface is fully contacted with the working surface, and

in the second mode, the second flat surface of the second bottom surface is fully contacted with the working surface.

8. The mode switching method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

determining, by the process unit, whether the first bottom surface or the second bottom surface contacts with the working surface according to a detect signal of a gyroscope, an accelerometer or a switching element.

9. The mode switching method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

calculating, using the process unit, a displacement according to the image frames of the working surface captured by the image sensor through the first bottom surface.

10. The mode switching method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

controlling a cursor movement according to the displacement in the first mode; and

performing a gesture operation according to the displacement in the second mode.