US 7,126,586 B2Granted

Data input devices and methods for detecting movement of a tracking surface by detecting laser doppler self-mixing effects of a frequency modulated laser light beam

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsXie Jianping, Ming Hai, Zhao Tianpeng, Lv Liang, Gui Huaqiao, Yuan Kong, Craig S. Ranta

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A data input device for use with a tracking surface having light-scattering properties with respect to the device. The device comprising a single laser having a modulated light beam. A beam splitter splits the modulated light beam into two light beams projected along separate paths toward the tracking surface. A portion of the light striking the tracking surface reflects back into a cavity of the single laser for self-mixing with the projected light, thereby altering first and second characteristics of the projected modulated light beam according to first and second directions associated with the tracking surface. A detector associated with the laser detects the altered first and second characteristics of the modulated light beam projected by the laser, and a controller responsive to the detector determines the relative movement of the tracking surface and data input device relative to one another as a function of the altered first and second characteristics detected by the detector.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A data input device for use with a tracking surface, said tracking surface having light-scattering properties with respect to said device, said device comprising:

a single laser having a cavity from which a light beam is projected;
a light beam modulator for modulating the frequency of the light beam over time;
a beam splitter for splitting the modulated light beam into a first modulated light beam and a second modulated light beam;
said beam splitter being configured to project the first modulated light beam onto said tracking surface along a first light path, at least a portion of the first modulated light beam striking said tracking surface and reflecting back into the cavity of said laser along said first light path and thereby altering at least one first characteristic of the projected modulated light beam,
said beam splitter further being configured to project the second modulated light beam onto said tracking surface along a second light path, at least a portion of the second modulated light beam striking said tracking surface and reflecting back into the cavity of said laser along said second light path and thereby altering at least one second characteristic of the projected modulated light beam;
a detector associated with the laser for detecting said altered first and second characteristics of the modulated light beam projected by the laser;
and
a controller responsive to the detector for determining the relative movement of the tracking surface and data input device relative to one another as a function of the altered first and second characteristics detected by the detector.

5 more elements

A method of tracking relative movement on a tracking surface having light scattering properties, said method comprising:

modulating the frequency of a light beam over time, said light beam being projected from a single laser cavity;
splitting the modulated light beam into a first modulated light beam and a second modulated light beam;
projecting the first modulated light beam onto said tracking surface along a first light path;
projecting the second modulated light beam onto said tracking surface along a second light path;
receiving at least a portion of the first modulated light beam reflected by the tracking surface along the first light path within the laser cavity;
receiving at least a portion of the second modulated light beam reflected by the tracking surface along the second light path within the laser cavity;
mixing said received reflected light portions with light generated within said laser cavity, said mixing thereby altering at least one first characteristic of said projected modulated light beam due to said received reflected portion of the first modulated light beam and altering at least one second characteristic of said projected modulated light beam due to said received reflected portion of the second modulated light beam;
projecting a modulated light beam with said at least one first and at least one second altered characteristics from said laser cavity;
detecting said at least one first altered characteristic of the modulated light beam;
detecting said at least one second altered characteristic of the modulated light beam;
and
determining movement of the tracking surface and the single laser cavity relative to one another as a function of the detected altered first and second characteristics.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/944,099Filed 17 Sep 2004
Published: US 2006/0072102 A16 Apr 2006
Granted: 24 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 3/03547
With detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D…
G01P 3/366
Devices characterised by the use of optical means, e.g. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light: by using diffraction of light
G06F 3/03543
With detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D…
G06F 3/03544
Mice or pucks: having dual sensing arrangement, e.g. two balls or two coils used to track rotation of the pointing device