US 2008/0288205 A1 · OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH SURFACE AND FREE SPACE NAVIGATION

Abstract

An optical navigation device for operation in a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode is described. One embodiment of the optical navigation device includes a microcontroller, a surface navigation sensor, and a free space navigation sensor. The surface and free space navigation sensors are coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to process a movement of the optical navigation device. The surface navigation sensor is configured to generate a surface navigation signal in response to a surface navigation image. The free space navigation sensor is configured to generate a free space navigation signal in response to a free space navigation image. Embodiments of the optical navigation device facilitate an integrated optical solution to provide desktop navigation and scene navigation in a single optical navigation device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical navigation device comprising:

a microcontroller to process a movement of the optical navigation device;
a surface navigation sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the surface navigation sensor to generate a surface navigation signal in response to a surface navigation image;
and
a free space navigation sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the free space navigation sensor to generate a free space navigation signal in response to a free space navigation image.

1 more element

A computer readable storage medium embodying a program of machine-readable instructions, executable by a digital processor, to perform operations to facilitate optical navigation, the operations comprising:

detect an operating locality of the optical navigation device relative to a navigation surface;
identify a change in the operating locality of the optical navigation device relative to the navigation surface, the change in the operating locality comprising a change between a surface operating locality and a free space operating locality;
and
switch between a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode in response to the identification of the change in the operating locality of the optical navigation device.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/749,700Filed 16 May 2007

Published

20 Nov 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01S 17/89
Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications: for mapping or imaging
G01S 7/499
Of systems according to group G01S17/00: using polarisation effects
G01S 17/88
Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems: lidar systems specially adapted…
G06F 3/0317
Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means: in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement…

Optical navigation device with surface and free space navigation

Life of this patent

Optical navigation device with surface and free space navigation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20