Abstract: An optical navigation chip. The optical navigation chip is appropriate for an optical pointing device and used for calculating a displacement of the optical navigation chip relative to an operating surface. The optical navigation chip comprises a photo sensor array driven by a photo sensor control circuit for detecting an image of the operating surface, a signal readout circuit coupled with the photo sensor array for reading out the image in analog format, an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuit coupled with the signal readout circuit for converting the image from analog format to digital format, an image qualification circuit coupled with the ADC circuit for determining quality of the image and outputting a quality index accordingly, and a motion detection circuit for outputting the displacement according to the quality index.

Abstract: A method and device of feature enhancement for digital image processing. A predefined feature in one dimension of the image is searched to obtain several peaks, and each peak is either a local maximum or local minimum. Each peak is enhanced by adding an offset to increase the local maximum or decrease the local minimum. The offset of each peak is computed by calculating the difference between each peak and the preceding peak, then multiplying by a preset ratio.

Abstract: A blind mating apparatus used in an expansion system has a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second PCB. The first PCB has a resilient member and a housing sleeving the resilient member, and the second PCB has a contact member electrically connecting the resilient member. The blind mating apparatus further has a guiding member for guiding the resilient member and through which the resilient member penetrates. The contact member has a tolerance for correctly mating with the resilient member while the resilient member provides the contact member with a little bias.

Abstract: A method to detect the movement of an image sensor according to captured images. An image region is captured from a first image. Then, a first corresponding region matching the first region is captured from a second image. A second image region is captured from the second image. Then, a second corresponding region matching the second captured image region is captured from the first image. Finally, the movement of the image sensor is determined according to the first region and the first corresponding region when a first relative distance between the first region and the first corresponding region is the same as a second relative distance of the second captured image region and the second corresponding region, but in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An optical apparatus. The optical apparatus is applied to an object surface, comprising a frame, a light emitting device and an optical sensor. The frame is disposed in the optical apparatus, having a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment has a first opening and the second compartment has a second opening. The light emitting device is disposed in the first compartment, wherein light emitted from the light emitting device passes through the first opening and is reflected by the object surface outside the frame. The optical sensor is disposed in the second compartment to receive light reflected from the object surface passing through the second opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing an image to generate pixel data thereof. The apparatus comprises a sensor having pixel lines sequentially reset to be exposed by reflection from the image for a period of time, wherein all the exposure time periods of pixel lines overlap, a light source illuminates the image, whereby the image is reflected to the sensor, and a controller turns on the light source during the overlapping interval of the exposure time periods of pixel lines.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit protecting an internal circuit. The internal circuit is powered by a first and second power supply and has an input terminal receiving an input signal on a pad. A capacitor is connected between the input terminal of the internal circuit and the second power supply. The ESD protection circuit comprises a protection circuit connected between the pad and the first power supply, and establishing a conductive path from the pad to the first power supply when an ESD event occurs, and an inductance connected between the pad and the input terminal of the internal circuit, and cutting off a conductive path from the pad to the capacitor when the ESD event occurs.

Abstract: An optical mouse for analyzing an image on the surface of an object to move an indicator on a computer screen. The optical mouse includes a housing, a lens holder, an EL element, a lens and a sensor. The lens holder is disposed in the housing and has a sidewall and a bay. The EL element is disposed on the sidewall of the lens holder and emits uniform light to the surface of the object to generate reflected light therefrom. The lens is disposed in the bay of the lens holder and images the reflected light to an imaging position. The sensor is disposed in the housing and in the imaging position and receives the reflected light to obtain the image from the surface of the object.

Abstract: A method to detect the movement of an image sensor. Movement is detected according to a first, second, third, and fourth frame, all captured by the image sensor. A first captured image region is captured from the first frame. Then, a first corresponding region matching the first captured image region is captured from the second frame, wherein the first corresponding region shifts in a predetermined direction relative to the first captured image region. Next, a second captured image region is captured from the third frame, wherein the second captured image region shifts in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction relative to the first captured image region. Then, a second corresponding region matching the second captured image region is captured from the fourth frame. Finally, the movement of the image sensor is determined according to the second captured image region and the second corresponding region.

Abstract: A power down system for regulated internal power supply in DRAM comprises a RAS control module, self-refresh clock control circuit, and a power down control circuit. The RAS control module responds with row address strobe signals to output a first power down control signal. While all the row address strobe signals, which denote states of the memory banks, are in a first condition of inactivity, the first power down control signal will inform the power down system to turn off a regulator in the DRAM under the first condition. The self-refresh clock control circuit responds with a self-refresh clock to output a second power down control signal. While the self-refresh clock is in a second condition of non-self-refresh mode, the second power down control signal will inform the power down system to turn off the regulator under the second condition.

Abstract: A power down scheme for a regulated sense amplifier power in DRAM. The power-supply level voltage Vccsa of a sense amplifier is turned on only within a certain time duration, which has no relationship with the word line turn-on time. The power down scheme includes control logic gates and time delay circuits which can be triggered by two internal control signals from other control modules in order to generate a power-down control signal for the bit line sense amplifier.