Optical Navigation Mechanism for Dynamic Surface Material Learning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical mouse devices struggle to accurately and stably detect movement on smooth surfaces like glass due to different light reflection characteristics, leading to power consumption issues when using laser light detection techniques.
Innovation Solution
An optical navigation device with a method that dynamically learns the material of the working surface using a light emitting unit, image sensor, and processor to differentiate between feature images and fixed patterns, allowing for calibration and power-efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser light detection and dark field techniques are used to detect movement on smooth glass surfaces, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the optical sensor by dynamically adjusting between bright field and dark field detection modes based on the detected surface characteristics. When a smooth surface is detected, the system switches to dark field mode for accurate tracking, while on regular surfaces it uses bright field mode to conserve power. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the energy-intensive detection mode only when necessary for measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its detection methodology based on real-time analysis of surface properties. The optical sensor continuously monitors reflected light patterns to identify smooth surfaces, and only then activates the more power-consuming laser dark field detection. This dynamic adaptation ensures that high-precision measurement is achieved only when required, thereby managing power consumption effectively.
2Use of energy by moving object
If bright field technique is used for optical detection, then use of energy is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates on smooth surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameter (bright field vs. dark field mode) based on surface characteristics. On smooth surfaces, it switches to dark field mode to maintain measurement precision, while on regular surfaces it uses bright field mode to save energy. This conditional parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing both power consumption and measurement precision according to the operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the optical sensor continuously analyzes reflected light patterns to detect surface smoothness. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts its detection mode - switching to dark field when smooth surfaces are detected and returning to bright field mode otherwise. This feedback-driven adaptation ensures measurement precision is maintained only when necessary, optimizing power consumption.
3Ease of operation
If conventional optical mouse device is used on smooth glass surface, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to light reflection characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between bright field and dark field detection modes based on real-time surface analysis. When the optical sensor detects a smooth surface through characteristic light reflection patterns, it automatically transitions to dark field mode to maintain measurement precision. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maintain ease of operation across different surfaces while preserving accuracy on challenging smooth surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by switching detection modes in response to surface characteristics. On smooth glass surfaces, it adopts dark field parameters for accurate tracking, while on regular surfaces it uses bright field parameters. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision on smooth surfaces without compromising ease of operation, as the switching is automatic and transparent to the user.
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
The solution enables accurate and stable movement detection on various surfaces while reducing power consumption, improving the performance of optical navigation devices on smooth surfaces like glass.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing at least one light emitting unit to emit at least one light ray to the working surface to reflect and generate image(s) on an image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dynamically learning a material of a working surface on which an optical navigation device is moving, includes: using light emitting unit (s) to emit light ray (s) to the surface so as to generate image(s) on an image sensor; estimating and calculating average offset(s) of image(s) of sensing pixel(s) of the image sensor according to at least one image motion information sensed by the sensing pixel(s) during a specific time; and, dynamically determining whether the image value(s) sensed by the sensing pixel (s) correspond to a fixed pattern or correspond to a feature image of the device moving on the surface according to the average offset(s) and a threshold.