Lift detection adapted for navigation on a transparent structure
AssigneeAvago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsWui Pin Lee, Sal Mun Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pointing device such as an optical mouse is equipped with a top surface lift detection system that is able to provide lift detection whether the pointing device sits on a transparent structure or on an opaque structure. The top surface lift detection system relies on the separate detection of a light beam that reflects off the surface upon which the pointing device sits to detect lift whether the pointing devices sits on an opaque surface or a transparent surface.
Claims16
A pointing device comprising:
- an illumination system for generating a beam of light to illuminate a surface upon which the pointing device sits;
- a navigation sensor array configured to generate image information related to an illuminated navigation surface for use in navigation tracking;
- and
- a top surface lift detection system configured to detect a portion of the beam that reflects off the surface upon which the pointing device sits and to generate a lift status signal in response to the detection, wherein the top surface lift detection system includes a photodetector that is separate from the navigation sensor array and dedicated to lift detection.
A pointing device comprising:
- an illumination system for generating a beam of light to illuminate a surface upon which the pointing device sits;
- a navigation sensor array configured to generate image information related to an illuminated navigation surface for use in navigation tracking;
- an navigation sensor lift detection system configured to generate a first lift status signal in response to the image information;
- and
- a top surface lift detection system configured to detect a portion of the beam that reflects off the surface upon which the pointing device sits and to generate a second lift status signal in response to the detection, wherein the top surface lift detection system includes a photodetector that is separate from the navigation sensor array and dedicated to lift detection.
An integrated circuit (IC) for optical navigation, the IC comprising:
- an optical navigation sensor array configured to generate image information related to an illuminated navigation surface for use in navigation tracking within a pointing device;
- an navigation sensor lift detection system configured to generate a first lift status signal in response to the image information;
- a top surface lift detection processor configured to generate a second lift status signal in response to detection of a portion of a beam that reflects off a surface upon which the pointing device sits;
- a navigation engine configured to output navigation information in response to the image information and one of the first and second lift status signals;
- and
- a lift detection photodetector positioned on the IC to detect light that reflects off the surface upon which the pointing device sits, wherein the lift detection photodetector is separate from the optical navigation sensor array and dedicated to lift detection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.