Optical positioning systems and methods

A method, comprising:

• detecting a first light signal by a first photodetector at a first location on a surface;
• detecting a second light signal by a second photodetector at a second location on the surface;
• detecting a third light signal by a third photodetector at a third location on the surface;
• determining, by a processor, a first phase difference between a fourth light signal transmitted by an object and the first light signal;
• determining, by the processor, a second phase difference between the fourth light signal and the second light signal;
• determining, by the processor, a third phase difference between the fourth light signal and the third light signal;
• determining a phase error component associated with each of the first, second, and third phase differences based on estimated distances corresponding to the first, second, and third phase differences, a first distance between the first and second photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the first and second locations, and a second distance between the second and third photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the second and third locations;
• removing, by the processor, the determined phase error component from each of the first, second, and third phase differences;
• and
• providing, by the processor, a fourth location of the object with respect to the first, second, and third locations based on the first, second, and third phase differences each having the determined phase error component removed.

An optical position sensing system, comprising:

• a transmitting device;
• a portable device including:
• a surface;
• a first photodetector at a first location on the surface and configured to detect a first light signal;
• a second photodetector at a second location on the surface and configured to detect a second light signal;
• a third photodetector at a third location on the surface and configured to detect a third light signal;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine a first phase difference between a fourth light signal transmitted by the transmitting device and the first light signal;
• determine a second phase difference between the fourth light signal and the second light signal;
• determine a third phase difference between the fourth light signal and the third light signal;
• determine a phase error component associated with each of the first, second, and third phase differences based on estimated distances corresponding to the first, second, and third phase differences, and a first distance between the first and second photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the first and second locations, and a second distance between the second and third photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the second and third locations;
• remove the determined phase error component from each of the first, second, and third phase differences;
• and
• provide a fourth location of the transmitting device with respect to the first, second, and third locations based on the first, second, and third phase differences each having the determined phase error component removed.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a first indication that a first photodetector detects a first light signal, in which the first photodetector is at a first location on a surface of a substrate;
• receive a second indication that a second photodetector detects a second light signal, in which the second photodetector is at a second location on the surface;
• receive a third indication that a third photodetector detects a third light signal, in which the third photodetector is at a third location on the surface;
• based on the first indication, determine a first phase difference between a fourth light signal transmitted by an object and the first light signal;
• based on the second indication, determine a second phase difference between the fourth light signal and the second light signal;
• based on the third indication, determine a third phase difference between the fourth light signal and the third light signal;
• determine a phase error component associated with each of the first, second, and third phase differences based on estimated distances corresponding to the first, second, and third phase differences, a first distance between the first and second photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the first and second locations, and a second distance between the second and third photodetectors calculated based on coordinates of the second and third locations;
• remove the determined phase error component from each of the first, second, and third phase differences;
• and
• provide a fourth location of the object with respect to the first, second, and third locations based on the first, second, and third phase differences having the determined phase error component removed.

An optical position sensing system, comprising:

• a substrate having a surface;
• a first photodetector at a first location on the surface and configured to detect a first light signal;
• a second photodetector at a second location on the surface and configured to detect a second light signal;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine a first phase difference between a fourth light signal transmitted by an object and the first light signal, the fourth light signal having a first frequency and a second frequency;
• determine a second phase difference between the fourth light signal and the second light signal;
• determine a phase error component associated with each of the first and second phase differences based on estimated distances corresponding to the first and second phase differences, a first distance between the first photodetector and the object calculated based on the first phase difference, and a second distance between the second photodetector and the object calculated based on the second phase difference;
• remove the determined phase error component from each of the first and second phase differences;
• and
• determine a fourth location of the object with respect to the first and second locations based on the first and second phase differences each having the determined phase error component removed, in which the fourth location is a two-dimensional location.