Computer Mouse Sensor Timing for Jitter-Free Displacement Reporting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The lack of synchronization between sensor activity to calculate displacement and communication activity to read displacement in computer mice leads to jitter in reported displacement.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method synchronizes sensor and communication activities by having the host MCU calculate an optical sensor flash rate, trigger communication, and read displacement calculations at fixed intervals, using tracking and surface flashes to identify surface characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sensor calculates displacement continuously and the host reads at a fixed polling rate, then the host can read displacement at regular intervals, but the sensor activity and communication activity are not synchronous leading to jitter in reported displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement reading accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization between sensor and host
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The host MCU triggers the optical sensor to calculate displacement at specific moments before the communication activity occurs. This preliminary triggering ensures that the displacement calculation is completed and ready for reading at the exact moment the host needs it, eliminating the jitter caused by asynchronous operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the host MCU monitors the sensor's displacement calculation status and adjusts the triggering timing accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the sensor is triggered at the optimal moment to provide accurate displacement data synchronized with the host's reading schedule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the host reads displacement at a fixed polling rate not synchronous with sensor calculations, then the communication is simple and regular, but the host perceives jitters on the displacements read out from the sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddisplacement reading accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The host MCU triggers the optical sensor to calculate displacement at specific moments before the communication activity occurs. This preliminary triggering ensures that the displacement calculation is completed and ready for reading at the exact moment the host needs it, eliminating the jitter caused by asynchronous operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the sensor triggering timing based on the host's communication schedule. Instead of using a fixed polling rate independent of sensor status, the triggering time is dynamically optimized to ensure synchronization between sensor calculation completion and host reading, maintaining both communication efficiency and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Eliminates jitter in displacement reporting by ensuring synchronization, providing accurate and synchronized displacement readings.

Implementation Method 1

an optical sensor emitting flashes and calculating displacements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4711886A1Computer implemented method for operating a computer mouse with improved report rate
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN
  • EP4711886A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4711886A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4711886A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for operating a computer mouse comprising an optical sensor emitting flashes and calculating displacements, a communication module to communicate with a host MCU computer and one or more processors coupled to the optical sensor, the method comprising steps: - calculating an optical sensor flash rate by the host MCU computer, - triggering by the host MCU computer communication with the optical sensor in order to read the calculated displacement and triggers the next displacement calculation of the optical sensor to ask the optical sensor for the position at a time between two flashes.