Optical Mouse Light Guide for Hover-Mode Light Concentration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical mice experience a decrease in light utilization efficiency when operating in a hover mode due to reduced light power reflection as the distance from the work surface increases, especially on non-mirror surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The optical engine generates a semi-collimated illumination beam with a light guide that maintains the size of the illuminated area in one direction while reducing it in a perpendicular direction, concentrating light energy near the light sensor's sensing region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the working gap between the optical mouse and the work surface is increased to enable hover mode operation, then the operational flexibility is improved, but the light power reflected by the work surface to the light sensor becomes lower, decreasing light utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination beam is designed with non-uniform intensity distribution, concentrating light energy specifically in the region where the light sensor detects reflected light. This local concentration of light quality ensures sufficient reflected light power reaches the sensor even when the working gap is increased for hover mode operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and light utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the illumination beam by using a semi-collimated beam with controlled divergence angles. The beam parameters are optimized so that the light intensity remains concentrated in the sensor's detection region across different working gaps, maintaining light utilization efficiency while enabling hover mode operation at increased distances.
2Device complexity
If a common illumination beam is used in optical mice, then the device structure is simple, but the light energy is not concentrated enough, reducing light utilization efficiency at increased working gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the illumination beam parameters by implementing a semi-collimated beam with specific divergence characteristics. This parameter optimization concentrates light energy in the sensor's detection region without requiring complex additional optical components, thus improving light utilization efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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
This configuration maintains light energy concentration within the light sensor's receptive area, enhancing light utilization efficiency even at increased working gaps.
Implementation Method 1
The light source is configured to generate an illumination beam passing through the first lens to form an illuminated area on the work surface
Implementation Method 2
the light sensor is arranged at a side of the light source in a first direction, and configured to receive reflected light from the illuminated area via the second lens
Implementation Method 3
receive reflected light from the illuminated area via the second lens
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a navigation device including a light source, a light guide and a light sensor. The navigation device is operated relative to a work surface. The light source generates an illumination beam passing through the light guide to generate an illuminated area on the work surface. The light sensor receives reflected light from the illuminated area via the light guide. When a working gap between the navigation device and the work surface is increased, a first size of the illuminated area in a first direction is substantially identical to a first initial size of the illumination beam in the first direction after just leaving the light guide, and a second size of the illuminated area in a second direction is smaller than a second initial size of the illumination beam in the second direction after just leaving the light guide.