# US 11,442,559 B2 · Dual-mode optical input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,559 B2 - Document ID: US11442559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/389,825 - Filed: 2021-07-30 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-26 - Assignees: Logitech Europe S.A. - Applicants: Logitech Europe S.A. - Inventors: François Morier; Olivier Theytaz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442559B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/03543: {Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/3259: {Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball} - 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)} - 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} - G06F 3/0383: {Signal control means within the pointing device} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In certain embodiments, an input device includes a housing, a processor disposed in the housing, and an image sensor to track a movement of the input device with respect to an underlying surface. The image sensor includes a pixel array and operates in two modes of operation including a first mode of operation where the processor causes the image sensor to utilize a first plurality of pixels in the pixel array when tracking the movement of the input device or a second mode of operation where the processor causes the image sensor to utilize a second plurality of pixels in the pixel array when tracking the movement of the input device, where the second plurality of pixels has fewer pixels than the first plurality of pixels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input device comprising: one or more processors; and an image sensor configured to: generate tracking data that is used by the one or more processors for movement tracking of the input device with respect to an underlying surface where the movement tracking is characterized by a frame rate; and to operate in either of two modes of operation including: a first mode of operation where the movement tracking is performed at a first frame rate operating over a first range of frequencies; and a second mode of operation where the movement tracking is performed at a second frame rate operating over a second range of frequencies different than the first range of frequencies, wherein the second range of frequencies has a narrower bandwidth than the first range of frequencies, wherein when in the first mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the first frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the first range of frequencies based on a speed that the input device is moving, and wherein when in the second mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the second frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the second range of frequencies based on the speed that the input device is moving. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input device of claim 1 wherein the first range of frequencies is between 1 kHz and 20 kHz, and wherein the second range of frequencies is between 100 Hz and 5 kHz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input device of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive application data from a host computing device communicatively coupled to the input device, the application data defining a type of software application that the input device is interacting with, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to switch between first mode of operation and the second mode of operation based on the application data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The input device of claim 3 wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the image sensor to operate in the first mode of operation when the software application is a gaming application, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the image sensor to operate in the second mode of operation when the software application is an office productivity application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The input device of claim 1 wherein the input device communicates with a host computing device via a first communication protocol when in the first mode of operation, and wherein the input device communicates with the host computing device via a second communication protocol when in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The input device of claim 5 wherein the first communication protocol has a first report rate of less than 5 ms per report, and wherein the second communication protocol has a second report rate of greater than 5 ms per report. ### Claim 7 An input device comprising: an imaging sensor configured to generate tracking data including one or more images of an underlying surface to the input device; one or more processors coupled to the imaging sensor, the one or more processors configured to track a movement of the input device relative to the underlying surface based on the tracking data, wherein the movement is characterized by a frame rate; a power storage component coupled to a housing of the input device, wherein the imaging sensor and the one or more processors are powered via the power storage component; wherein the input device is configured to selectively operate in either of two modes of operation including: a first mode of operation wherein the tracked movement is performed at a first frame rate operating over a first range of frequencies; and a second mode of operation where the movement tracking is performed at a second frame rate operating over a second range of frequencies different than the first range of frequencies, wherein the second mode of operation is characterized in that less power is consumed by the input device from the power storage component as compared to the first mode of operation for the tracking of the movement of the input device, and wherein the input device further comprises an input element configured to be actuated by a user of the input device and wherein the input device is configured to selectively operate in the first mode or the second mode in response to actuation of the input element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are user selectable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein the first range of frequencies is between 1 kHz and 20 kHz, and wherein the second range of frequencies is between 100 Hz and 5 kHz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein when in the first mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the first frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the first range of frequencies based on a speed that the input device is moving, and wherein when in the second mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the second frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the second range of frequencies based on the speed that the input device is moving. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive application data from a host computing device communicatively coupled to the input device, the application data defining a type of software application that the input device is interacting with, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to switch between first mode of operation and the second mode of operation based on the application data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The input device of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the image sensor to operate in the first mode of operation when the software application is a gaming application, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the image sensor to operate in the second mode of operation when the software application is an office productivity application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein the input device communicates with a host computing device via a first communication protocol when in the first mode of operation, and wherein the input device communicates with the host computing device via a second communication protocol when in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The input device of claim 13 wherein the first communication protocol has a first report rate of less than 5 ms per report, and wherein the second communication protocol has a second report rate of greater than 5 ms per report. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The input device of claim 7 wherein the power storage component is a battery or capacitor that is configured to be periodically charged from an external power source to the input device and wherein the imaging sensor and the one or more processors are configured to be powered by the power storage component when the external power source is not coupled to the input device to charge the power storage component. ### Claim 16 A method for operating an input device, the method comprising: controlling, by one or more processors, an image sensor to generate tracking data that includes one or more images of an underlying surface of the input device, wherein the tracking data operates at a frame rate; tracking a movement of the input device relative to the underlying surface based on the tracking data; receiving an input signal to place the input device in one of a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation; when the input device is placed in the first mode of operation: the movement tracking operates at a first frame rate operating over a first range of frequencies; and when the input device is placed in the second mode of operation: the movement tracking operates at a second frame rate operating over a second range of frequencies, wherein the second range of frequencies has a narrower bandwidth than the first range of frequencies, wherein when in the first mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the first frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the first range of frequencies based on a speed that the input device is moving, and wherein when in the second mode of operation, the one or more processors cause the second frame rate to either dynamically increase or decrease over the second range of frequencies based on the speed that the input device is moving. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, application data from a host computing device communicatively coupled to the input device, the application data defining a type of software application that the input device is interacting with, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to switch between first mode of operation and the second mode of operation based on the application data.