Abstract: A parameterizable integrated circuit (IC) and method for designing, refining and implementing a circuit including the parameterizable IC are described. The method begins with receiving information on candidate sensing sub-circuits, parameterizable ICs and user specified requirements for the circuit including physical properties to be sensed and target values for the circuit. Each of the parameterizable ICs include a number of parametric analog and digital circuit elements, and a scheduler to schedule resources of the IC according to measurement priorities, measurement rates and the available circuit elements. Next, each of the candidate sensor-sub-circuits is evaluated with reference to the specified requirements, and each of the candidate ICs evaluated with reference to the requirements and the sensor-sub-circuits. Generally, the method further includes communicating to a user a number of candidate circuit-designs within a predetermined percentage of the one or more target values for the circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing and implementing a circuit comprising an integrated circuit (IC) including a number of analog and digital circuit elements for which operating parameters can be set. In one embodiment the method includes entering in a circuit design tool embodied in a computer readable medium on a server specified requirements for a circuit, the specified requirements including physical properties to be sensed by the circuit. The circuit is automatically modeled by the circuit design tool based on the specified requirements and resources available on the IC, the modeling including translating the specified requirements into parameter settings of the number of the analog and digital circuit elements. The circuit is then built, the building including setting parameters of at least one of the analog and digital circuit elements of the IC using the circuit design tool based on the modeling of the circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing and implementing a circuit comprising an integrated circuit (IC) including a number of analog and digital circuit elements for which operating parameters can be set. In one embodiment the method includes entering in a circuit design tool embodied in a computer readable medium on a server specified requirements for a circuit, the specified requirements including physical properties to be sensed by the circuit. The circuit is automatically modeled by the circuit design tool based on the specified requirements and resources available on the IC, the modeling including translating the specified requirements into parameter settings of the number of the analog and digital circuit elements. The circuit is then built, the building including setting parameters of at least one of the analog and digital circuit elements of the IC using the circuit design tool based on the modeling of the circuit.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing relative movement between a data input device and a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes an illuminator and a detector. The illuminator has a light source and illumination optics to illuminate a portion of the surface with a planar phase-front. The detector has a plurality of photosensitive elements and imaging optics. The illuminator and the detector are configured such that the illuminated portion of the surface is less than fifty percent larger than a field of view of the photosensitive elements of the detector. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing movement of a data input device across a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes at least an illuminator, telecentric imaging optics on the object (scattering surface) side, and an array of photosensitive elements. The illuminator is configured to illuminate a portion of the surface. The telecentric imaging optics is configured to image the optical features emanating from the illuminated portion of the surface, and the array of photosensitive elements is configured to detect intensity data relating to the optical features imaged by the telecentric imaging optics. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing relative movement between a data input device and a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames of the surface. The sensor includes at least a detector, first circuitry, and second circuitry. The detector includes a plurality of photosensitive elements organized in first and second arrays. The first circuitry is configured to combine signals from every Mth element of the first array to generate M group signals, and the second circuitry is configured to combine signals from every M?th element of the second array to generate M? group signals. M and M? are numbers which are different from each other. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment described relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing movement of a data input device across a surface by detecting displacement of optical features in a succession of images of the surface. The sensor includes a detector having an array including a number (N) of sets of photosensitive elements, each set having a number (M) of photosensitive elements, where M is greater than two and not equal to four. Signals from each of the photosensitive elements in a set are electrically coupled or combined with corresponding photosensitive elements in other sets to produce a total of M independent group signals from M interlaced groups of photosensitive elements. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing relative movement between a data input device and a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of images of the surface. The sensor includes a plurality of linear comb arrays (LCAs) arranged along an associated axis. Each LCA comprises a row of photosensistive elements parallel to the associated axis. Another embodiment relates to a method of sensing movement of a data input device across a surface. An intensity pattern of light reflected from an illuminated portion of the surface is detected using a first plurality of linear comb arrays (LCAs) arranged along a first axis and a second plurality of LCAs arranged along a second axis not parallel to the first axis. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed pertains to an optical positioning apparatus configured to be resistant to speckle fading. The apparatus includes at least a coherent light source and a detector. The coherent light source is configured to illuminate a surface with laser light. The detector is configured to obtain a succession of data frames of the illuminated surface, and the detector comprises N rows each including a plurality of photosensitive elements. Another embodiment disclosed pertains to an optical positioning apparatus configured to be resistant to speckle fading using calculating and filtering circuitry. The calculating circuitry is configured to calculate velocity data from the intensity data. The filtering circuitry is configured to reduce effects from speckle fading in the velocity data. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing transverse displacement of a data input device relative to a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes at least a coherent light source, illumination optics to illuminate a portion of the surface, imaging optics, and a first array of photosensitive elements having a periodic distance. The illuminator and the detector are configured to produce on the first array of photosensitive elements an intensity pattern of light reflected from the illuminated portion of the surface. The intensity pattern comprises a plurality of speckles having an average speckle diameter which is between one half and two times the periodic distance of the array.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring wavelength composition and power of a dispersed spectrum of light comprises a diffractive light modulator and a detector. The diffractive light modulator comprises an array of light modulating pixels operable in a first mode and a second mode. In operation, the dispersed spectrum of light illuminates the diffractive light modulator along the array of light modulating pixels, which selectively directs a subset of the dispersed spectrum of light into the first mode while directing a remainder of the dispersed spectrum of light into the second mode. The detector is optically coupled to the diffractive light modulator. In operation, the detector detects the subset of the dispersed spectrum of light while not detecting the remainder of the dispersed spectrum of light. Each of the light modulating pixels is controlled by signals sent from a controller. The signals comprise a time division multiplex modulation, a code division multiplex modulation, or a combination thereof.