Abstract: A driving method for improving luminous efficacy of a light emitting diode (LED), the method comprising: periodically switching a DC current supplied to the LED between a high current level lH and a low current level lL, the low current level lL being fixed at zero or raised above zero to produce a DC offset; and maintaining an average current at a first value If by adjusting the duty cycle acting on the high current level lH and any one from the grouping consisting of: adjusting the high current level lH and adjusting the low current level lL, and adjusting the high current level lH or adjusting the low current level lL.

Abstract: A data access method for accessing a non-volatile memory module is provided. The data access method includes configuring a plurality of logical addresses and grouping the logical addresses into logical blocks to map to the physical blocks of the non-volatile memory module, and a host system formats the logical addresses into one partition by using a file system and the partition stores at least one file and a file description block corresponding to the file. The data access method further includes searching an end mark corresponding to entry values of the file description block, setting logical addresses storing the end mark as default pattern addresses, and setting values stored in the logical addresses as default values corresponding to the default pattern addresses. Accordingly, the data access method can divide one partition into a write protect area and a writable area by updating data stored in the default pattern addresses.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing jitter during an optical navigation operation operates to automatically switch the current resolution based on jitter-resolution correlation data.

Abstract: An Electrical Fast Transient/Burst (EFT/B) detection and recovery system for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The system includes a USB core and a burst controller. The USB core provides serial communications with a host device through a USB data channel. The burst controller is coupled to the USB core. The burst controller detects an EFT/B event and automatically reconnects the USB core to the host device in response to recognition of a suspend state of the USB core by the host device.

Abstract: A flash memory storage system having a flash memory controller and a flash memory chip is provided. The flash memory controller configures a second physical unit of the flash memory chip as a midway cache physical unit corresponding to a first physical unit and temporarily stores first data corresponding to a first host write command and second data corresponding to a second host write command in the midway cache physical unit, wherein the first and second data corresponding to slow physical addresses of the first physical unit. Then, the flash memory controller synchronously copies the first and second data from the midway cache physical unit into the first physical unit, thereby shortening time for writing data into the flash memory chip.

Abstract: An optical navigation system and method of controlling the light output power of the system uses an optical feedback system to control the driving signal being applied to a light source of the optical navigation system.

Abstract: A pointing device, such as an optical mouse, includes a light unit for illuminating a surface, a photodetector array configured to generate image information related to the illuminated surface, a navigation engine for generating navigation information at a target resolution of the pointing device, and a resolution input interface for controlling or adjusting the target resolution value of the pointing device via input of a resolution scaling ratio. The resolution input interface is configured for user input of the resolution scaling ratio, such that the target resolution of the pointing device can be readily adjusted, in real time, over a broad range of resolution values and in small increments. A technique for mitigating cursor jitter problems at high resolution values is also disclosed.

Abstract: A data writing method for writing data into a flash memory chip is provided, wherein the flash memory chip includes a plurality of physical units. The data writing method includes providing a flash memory control circuit and configuring a plurality of logical units, wherein each logical unit is mapped to at least one physical unit. The data writing method also includes configuring a plurality of logical addresses and mapping the logical addresses to the logical units, wherein at least one logical unit is mapped to at least two non-continuous logical addresses. The data writing method further includes writing the data from a host system into the corresponding physical units according to the logical units mapped to the logical addresses through the flash memory control circuit. Thereby, the data to be moved while writing data into the physical units is reduced, and accordingly the data writing speed is effectively increased.

Abstract: A driving method for improving luminous efficacy of a light emitting diode (LED), the method comprising: periodically switching a DC current supplied to the LED between a high current level lH and a low current level lL, the low current level lL being fixed at zero or raised above zero to produce a DC offset; and maintaining an average current at a first value If by adjusting the duty cycle acting on the high current level lH and any one from the grouping consisting of: adjusting the high current level lH and adjusting the low current level lL, and adjusting the high current level lH or adjusting the low current level lL.

Abstract: A pointing device and method for using the same are disclosed. The pointing device includes an illumination system, an imaging system, and a controller. The illumination system illuminates a portion of a surface over which the pointing device travels with coherent light. The imaging system includes a first window for receiving light from the illuminated portion of the surface and transmitting that light to a first imaging array such that a speckle pattern is generated on the first imaging array and a second window includes an imaging optical system for forming an image of part of the illuminated portion of the surface on a second imaging array. The controller selects either the first imaging array or the second imaging array and compares the output of the selected imaging array at first and second times to determine a displacement indicative of the direction and distance the pointing device moved.

Abstract: An Electrical Fast Transient/Burst (EFT/B) detection and recovery system for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The system includes a USB core and a burst controller. The USB core provides serial communications with a host device through a USB data channel. The burst controller is coupled to the USB core. The burst controller detects an EFT/B event and automatically reconnects the USB core to the host device in response to recognition of a suspend state of the USB core by the host device.

Abstract: A control circuit having a drive circuit and a controller adapted for use in optical mice is disclosed. The drive circuit is connected between first and second ports and passes a current between those ports having an amplitude determined by a control signal that is generated by the controller. The first port is connected to an illumination device and the second port is connected to a power rail. The control circuit also includes a potential measuring circuit that generates a signal indicative of a drive circuit potential between the first and second ports. The controller records the drive circuit potential for a predetermined current when the first port is connected to an illumination device. The controller sets the control signal based on the recorded drive circuit potential. The control circuit can record the drive circuit potential when the controller is powered.

Abstract: A detection system and method are disclosed for detecting a foreign object on a surface, such as an airport runway or a racetrack. The detection system includes a plurality of detectors mounted on the vehicle and capable of receiving light reflected from the object on the surface, and producing data that indicates the presence of said object as said vehicle moves along the surface; and a computer electrically coupled to each of the plurality of detectors, said computer being capable of processing said data and generating an alarm to alert an operator of said vehicle to a presence of said object. In low light conditions, the system may further include a plurality of light sources mounted on a vehicle and capable of illuminating at least one monitored area of the surface with light.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a housing, a light source, a navigation sensor, and optics. In accordance with the invention, the light source is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) that is configured to generate coherent light in the visible light spectrum. For example, the VCSEL generates red coherent light in the range of 600-700 nm. In an embodiment, the VCSEL generates red coherent light at 665 nm±20 nm. Because the light generated by the VCSEL is in the visible light spectrum, a human will sense contact with the corresponding beam and will naturally react to avoid injury. This enhances the overall safety of an optical mouse. Additionally, when using a VCSEL that generates visible red light, it is easy to visually determine whether or not the beam is focused directly on a measurement sensor during calibration.

Abstract: A device includes a light emitter, a current sensing resistance, a current generator, and detection circuitry. The current generator is connected to the light emitter and to the current sensing resistance. During a normal operating mode of the device, the current generator regulates current flow through the light emitter. In a test mode, the current generator regulates current flow through the current sensing resistance. The detection circuitry, during the test mode, detects when current flow through the current sensing resistance is outside an expected range.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing jitter during an optical navigation operation operates to automatically switch the current resolution based on jitter-resolution correlation data.

Abstract: An optical navigation system and method of controlling the light output power of the system uses an optical feedback system to control the driving signal being applied to a light source of the optical navigation system.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a housing, a light source, a navigation sensor, and optics. In accordance with the invention, the light source is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) that is configured to generate coherent light in the visible light spectrum. For example, the VCSEL generates red coherent light in the range of 600-700 nm. In an embodiment, the VCSEL generates red coherent light at 665 nm±20 nm. Because the light generated by the VCSEL is in the visible light spectrum, a human will sense contact with the corresponding beam and will naturally react to avoid injury. This enhances the overall safety of an optical mouse. Additionally, when using a VCSEL that generates visible red light, it is easy to visually determine whether or not the beam is focused directly on a measurement sensor during calibration.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention relates to detecting a homogeneous surface. A first surface image is received. A plurality of values are generated by performing a plurality of auto correlations with the first surface image and a copy of the first surface image. The plurality of values includes a first peak value. A determination is made as to whether a normalized second peak value of the plurality of values satisfies a defined condition associated with a value. If so, a homogeneous surface image filter is utilized with a second surface image.

Abstract: A pointing device, such as an optical mouse, includes a light unit for illuminating a surface, a photodetector array configured to generate image information related to the illuminated surface, a navigation engine for generating navigation information at a target resolution of the pointing device, and a resolution input interface for controlling or adjusting the target resolution value of the pointing device via input of a resolution scaling ratio. The resolution input interface is configured for user input of the resolution scaling ratio, such that the target resolution of the pointing device can be readily adjusted, in real time, over a broad range of resolution values and in small increments. A technique for mitigating cursor jitter problems at high resolution values is also disclosed.