Abstract: Various embodiments of an optical sensor comprising a novel shield that may be quickly and accurately aligned and positioned with respect to an underlying light emitting and light detecting assembly are disclosed. Also disclosed are novel lens arrangements for efficiently collimating light emitted and received by the optical proximity sensor, and for reducing crosstalk.

Abstract: A surface mount light emitting device package with mechanical latching means for locking a lens on to the package is provided. The surface mount light emitting package may include an encapsulation layer or a lens, a lead frame, at least one lead, a body, a die, and a layer of transparent gel encapsulant material. The lead frame may include at least one protrusion which is bent upward to from at least one latch for engaging the lens.

Abstract: An encoder module with an alignment system with an encoder device, a housing and a movable hub is presented. The encoder module may be integrated with an alignment system to facilitate a built-alignment feature for aligning an encoder device disposed within the encoder module. The encoder module may include a hub that may be movably arranged in the housing and rotatable about a central axis of rotation. The hub may be slidingly moved between a first position configured to set the encoder module to engage in a centering mode and a second position configured to set the encoder module to engage in a rotational mode. The encoder module may be configured to be slidingly disposed on a motor whereby a sleeve of the hub is configured to mate with a shaft of the motor by means of slide fitting.

Abstract: A method for resetting and reenumerating a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device, an Electrical Fast Transient/Burst (EFTB) unit of a USB device for resetting and reenumerating the USB device and a USB device are described. In one embodiment, a method for resetting and reenumerating a USB device involves detecting a USB reset command from a host device at a USB device, setting a reset flag in the USB device in response to the detecting of the USB reset command, determining if the USB device is in a corrupted state in response to the reset flag, and causing a Single Ended Zero (SE0) signal to be issued to reset the USB device out of the corrupted state and reenumerate the USB device back to the host device if the USB device is determined to be in the corrupted state. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An optical finger navigation device includes an image sensor, a tracking surface, and an optical element. The image sensor generates an image representative of light detected at a pixel array that has a pixel pitch which at least partially defines a surface area of a pixel. The tracking surface is approximately parallel to the image sensor. A first distance between and substantially orthogonal to planes of the tracking surface and the image sensor is insufficient under a set of illumination constraints to produce at the image sensor a speckle size above a threshold. The threshold is approximately one order of magnitude less than the pixel pitch. The optical element is interposed between the tracking surface and the image sensor. The optical element includes at least one optical redirection surface to redirect light along an optical path of a second distance between the tracking surface and the image sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensor assembly is disclosed. The optical sensor assembly includes a folded optical system that utilizes one or more non-planar reflective surfaces that enable the manipulation or conditioning of the overall thickness of the sensor assembly, the field of view of the sensor assembly, and the image size, either independently or in combination.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods of detecting the presence of at least one predetermined object held against a capacitive touchscreen by a user's finger or hand are disclosed. The predetermined object is held or placed against a touchscreen or touch panel, and sensed mutual capacitance signals are routed to a processor. The processor determines whether the sensed signals correspond to the at least one predetermined object on the basis of one or more predetermined ranges of mutual capacitances corresponding to the predetermined object, where the predetermined range of mutual capacitances does not correspond to a user's finger or hand. Other characteristics of the predetermined object may also be determined, such as the object's shape, orientation or electrical resistance.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen or touch panel having dual finger or hand navigation and fingerprint reading capabilities. In one embodiment, fingerprints are read and processed by the same capacitive touchscreen controller that reads and processes capacitively-sensed finger or hand touches made across the touchscreen or touch panel. A small portion of the capacitive touchscreen or touch panel is dedicated to reading an authorized user's fingerprints, while a larger or main portion of the capacitive touchscreen or touch panel is dedicated to sensing a user's finger or hand navigation across the touchscreen or touch panel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of differential cells for touchscreens or touch panels in capacitive sensing systems are disclosed. The differential circuit topologies of individual cells forming an array of such cells in a touchscreen or touch panel are configured to cancel common mode noise appearing on the multiple sense lines contained in each cell, and can result in lower power consumption, enhanced touch or near-touch sensitivity for a touchscreen or touch panel, and increased immunity from noise.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing multiple user input switch devices uses a generated sense current that corresponds to an electrical current through a node to which the user input switch devices are connected to sense current states of the user input switch devices. The sense current is used to produce multiple output signals that indicate the current states of the user input switch devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a reflective optical encoder package having a light emitter and a light detector disposed on an integrated circuit having an optically transparent glass layer disposed thereover. The package can be manufactured without resort to wirebonding techniques and instead can be made using wafer level packaging methods and materials. The package can also be made of lower profile or smaller footprint than many conventional optical encoder packages, and may be employed to sense or detect rotary or linear motion.

Abstract: A system of a tactile switch and an optical navigation device. The system includes a user device. The user device includes an optical finger navigation device. The optical finger navigation device enables a user to control a function of the user device via the optical finger navigation device. The optical finger navigation device includes a circuit board, a sensor array electrically coupled to the circuit board, and a tactile switch electrically coupled to the circuit board. The sensor array detects light and generates a navigation signal that corresponds to the detected light. The tactile switch is physically aligned with the sensor array on the circuit board. The tactile switch generates a switch signal upon actuation of the tactile switch in response to a force on a packaging structure of the sensor array.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) device is defined by a low-profile package without a die attach pad (DAP). In place of the DAP, an adhesive element is used to retain a die relative to a lead frame during processing. In one example, a method of manufacturing the device includes sealing the lead frame on one side using an adhesive tape and exposing a portion of the tape within a die attach region. The die is secured onto the tape adhesive and held in place during subsequent processing, such as a wire bonding procedure to couple the die to external portions of the frame.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical pointing device involves capturing a plurality of arrays of data, representing light reflected from a surface to a two-dimensional array of photo detectors, processing at least some of the plurality of arrays of data to estimate movement of the surface during each of a plurality of measurement cycles, and sending a series of estimated movement update signals to a computer.

Abstract: A light-emitting device with at least two light-emitting dies encapsulated with two different types of the wavelength-converting materials is disclosed. Each of the wavelength-converting materials is configured to produce a visible light from a narrow band light near UV region produced by the light-emitting dies, but with different correlated color temperatures (CCT) and different spectral contents. The combination of the two visible light forms the desired visible white light. The Color rendering index of the light-emitting device is tunable by adjusting the supply current to the light-emitting dies. In another embodiment, a light module with tunable CRI for an illumination system is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of circuitry and methods for generating interpolated signals in an optical encoder. The optical encoder configurations and circuitry disclosed herein permit very high resolution reflective optical encoders in small packages to be provided. Methods of making and using such optical encoders are also disclosed. According to one embodiment, the interpolated signals are generated through the use of signal generation circuitry, peak voltage generation circuitry, reference voltage generation circuitry, slope detection circuitry, and a clocked comparator that is configured to output interpolated output pulses.

Abstract: A user input device to generate a shutter threshold adaptive to ambient light conditions. The user input device includes a sensor array, a shutter controller, and a threshold generator. The sensor array obtains image data in response to light incident on the sensor array. The shutter controller is coupled to the sensor array. The shutter controller controls a shutter time during which the sensor array is responsive to the light incident on the sensor array according to a shutter value. The threshold generator is coupled to the shutter controller. The threshold generator dynamically generates a shutter threshold corresponding to the shutter value. The shutter threshold defines a transition of a finger-on/off state.

Abstract: A finger navigation device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the navigation device comprises a substrate; a light emitter located on the substrate; a photosensor located on the substrate; and a first cover located above the light emitter and the photosensor. The first cover has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side faces the substrate. A first lens is located in the first cover proximate the light emitter. An aperture is located in the first cover proximate the photosensor. A second cover faces the second side of the first cover and has a first surface proximate a transparent portion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a keypad assembly comprising a keypad, a light guide sheet, a dome sheet, and a board. The keypad comprises at least one protrusion and at least one rib. The light guide sheet has openings that are smaller than a first portion of the at least one protrusion. The dome sheet and the board have openings that are larger than a first portion of the at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion is compressible such that the first portion of the at least one protrusion is extendable through the openings in the light guide sheet, the dome sheet and the board. The at least one rib physically contacts at least a portion of the light guide sheet.

Abstract: An optical navigation device determines relative movement between the optical navigation device and a navigation surface. The optical navigation device includes a light source, an image sensor, and an eccentric field imaging lens. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The image sensor generates a navigation image of light scattered off of the navigation surface. The eccentric field imaging lens is disposed between the navigation surface and the image sensor. The eccentric field imaging lens includes multiple lens surfaces which are tilted at different oblique angles relative to the navigation surface to direct the light scattered off of the navigation surface toward the image sensor.