Optical Navigation Shutter Tuning Across Mode Transitions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical navigation devices struggle to accurately determine shutter intervals during mode transitions due to abrupt changes in pixel array characteristics, leading to inaccurate displacement calculations.

Innovation Solution

The optical navigation device employs a processor to identify mode transitions and adjust shutter intervals by capturing additional shutter tuning frames with varying scaling factors to ensure image statistics continuity, using a light sensor to capture frames before and after the transition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the optical navigation device uses a fixed shutter interval for capturing image frames, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simpler, but measurement precision deteriorates during mode transitions due to abrupt changes in pixel array characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplacement determination accuracyVSAvoidshutter interval control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter interval is changed from a fixed value to a dynamically adjustable parameter. The processor automatically tunes the shutter interval based on detected mode transitions and image statistics, allowing the system to adapt to changing operating conditions (run-to-rest transitions, filter switching) while maintaining measurement precision without requiring manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where image statistics from previously captured frames are continuously monitored. When mode transitions are detected through changes in image statistics, the system uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the shutter interval for subsequent frames, ensuring continuous optimal performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If additional shutter tuning frames are captured during mode transitions, then measurement precision is improved by ensuring image statistics continuity, but productivity decreases due to reduced effective frames for displacement calculation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage statistics continuityVSAvoideffective frame rate for displacement calculation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing shutter tuning frames before returning to normal displacement calculation frames. These preliminary frames are used to tune the shutter interval and ensure image statistics continuity, preparing the system for accurate subsequent measurements without compromising the effectiveness of displacement calculation frames

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The frame capture sequence is segmented into different functional portions: displacement calculation frames and shutter tuning frames. This segmentation allows the system to dedicate specific frames to different purposes, with tuning frames inserted strategically during mode transitions to maintain precision without permanently reducing the overall frame rate for displacement calculation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the shutter interval is adjusted frequently to compensate for mode transitions, then measurement precision is maintained, but use of energy increases due to additional frame captures and processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplacement determination accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption for frame capture and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by detecting mode transitions through image statistics analysis and proactively adjusting the shutter interval before significant degradation in measurement precision occurs. This prevents the need for more aggressive corrections later, reducing overall energy consumption by maintaining optimal performance with minimal adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 approach ensures that image frames have substantially identical statistics, enabling precise displacement determination even during mode transitions, thus maintaining accurate navigation.

Implementation Method 1

a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor captures a first image frame and a second image frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20260056622A1Optical navigation device capable of determining shutter interval with mode transition and shutter interval determining method

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 PIXART IMAGING INC

AI summary

There is provided an optical navigation device including a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor is configured to capture image frames using a predetermined frame period. The processor is configured to calculate image statistics according to a first image frame captured by the light sensor and determine an expected shutter interval for capturing a second image frame according to the image statistics. The processor is further configured to control the light sensor to capture additional shutter tuning frames between the first image frame and the second image frame upon confirming a mode transition at or prior to the first image frame.