Abstract: An optical navigation chip cooperated with a light source for being used in a mouse is provided. The mouse transmits a mouse signal to a computer for navigation control. The optical navigation chip includes an optical sensing array and a circuitry. The optical sensing array is utilized for receiving a reflected light from a surface indicating features of the surface for generating a digital frame corresponding to intensity variation caused by the reflected light. The circuitry is coupled to the optical sensing array, and utilized for generating a digital displacement signal by monitoring the intensity variation of two different digital frames, wherein the two digital frames are captured by the optical sensing array at two different times. Additionally, the mouse suspends the mouse signal to the computer if the intensity variation is flat.

Abstract: An optical navigation chip cooperated with a light source for being used in a mouse is provided. The mouse transmits a mouse signal to a computer for navigation control. The optical navigation chip includes an optical sensing array and a circuitry. The optical sensing array is utilized for receiving a reflected light from a surface indicating features of the surface for generating a digital frame corresponding to intensity variation caused by the reflected light. The circuitry is coupled to the optical sensing array, and utilized for generating a digital displacement signal by monitoring the intensity variation of two different digital frames, wherein the two digital frames are captured by the optical sensing array at two different times. Additionally, the mouse suspends the mouse signal to the computer if the intensity variation is flat.

Abstract: An optical navigation system cooperated with a light source for being used in a mouse is provided. The mouse transmits a mouse signal to a computer for navigation control. The optical navigation system includes an optical sensing array and a circuitry. The optical sensing array is utilized for receiving a reflected light from a surface indicating features of the surface for generating a digital frame corresponding to intensity variation caused by the reflected light. The circuitry is coupled to the optical sensing array, and utilized for generating a digital displacement signal by monitoring the intensity variation of two different digital frames, wherein the two digital frames are captured by the optical sensing array at two different time. Additionally, the mouse suspends the mouse signal to the computer if the intensity variation is flat.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of tracking movement relative to a surface involves comparing at least some data elements of a first array with at least some of data elements of a second array if it is determined, from an examination of the first array of data elements, that a characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.

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 process and a system that determine a glint position and a pupil position are disclosed. The process includes illuminating one eye to produce a glint on that eye, and obtaining a glint image of that eye showing that glint on that eye. A glint position is determined at least in part from that glint image. The process further includes illuminating that eye using polarized light, and obtaining, through a polarizer that can attenuate reflected polarized light, a pupil image of that eye. A pupil position is determined at least in part from that pupil image.

Abstract: A gaze-tracking system uses separate “glint” and “pupil” images to determine the position of the pupil relative to the position of the glint. Since separate images are obtained, the exposures can be independently optimized for each image's intended purpose (e.g., locating the glint or locating the pupil, respectively). Polarizers are used to eliminate the glint in one image. This more saliently reveals the pupil, allowing its position relative to the glint to be determined more precisely, and enhancing the accuracy and robustness of the system.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of tracking movement relative to a surface involves comparing at least some data elements of a first array with at least some of data elements of a second array if it is determined, from an examination of the first array of data elements, that a characteristic condition does not exist in the first array of data elements, wherein the characteristic condition is related to the uniformity of at least a majority of the data elements of the first array.

Abstract: Movement of an optical mouse may be tracked by providing a source of non-coherent light in a movable housing for illuminating a work surface at a low angle of incidence, providing a two dimensional array of photo detectors for producing arrays of data elements responsive to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated work surface and providing circuitry for capturing a first array of data elements from the two dimensional array of photo detectors at a first time, for detecting a characteristic condition in the first array, for capturing a second array of data elements at a second time, and for tracking movement of the housing relative to the work surface by comparing at least some of the data elements of the first array with at least some of the data elements of the second array if the characteristic condition is not detected in the first array.

Abstract: A method for controlling a computer cursor involves capturing a plurality of arrays of data in a hand held device representing light entering the device from an environment in which the device resides, processing at least some of the plurality of arrays of data in the device to estimate motion of the device with respect to the environment during each of a plurality of measurement cycles, and sending a series of estimated motion signals to a computer to move a cursor display in response to motion of the device relative to the environment, each such estimated motion signal representing the estimated motion of the handheld device during more than one of the plurality of measurement cycles.

Abstract: A robotic camera dolly has a column and a base. The base is both driven and steered through the use of two drive wheels. The drive wheels are driven at equal peripheral velocities to move the dolly in a straight line, and at different peripheral velocities to steer the dolly. The base of the dolly rotates during steering. However, a maintaining mechanism maintains the pointing direction of a camera mount despite the rotation of the base. Optionally, the camera dolly additionally has a suspension that couples two caster wheels to its base in a manner that provides a greater compliance with respect to common motion of the caster wheels than with respect to differential motion of the caster wheels. The suspension gives the dolly the rigid stance of a suspension having four points of support, with the stability of a suspension having only three points of support.

Abstract: A method for operating a hand held optical pointing device, such as an optical mouse, involves capturing a plurality of arrays of data in a hand held optical pointing device representing light reflected from irregularities on a surface, processing at least some of the plurality of arrays of data in the device to estimate movement of the device with respect to the surface during each of a plurality of measurement cycles, and sending a series of estimated movement update signals to a computer, each such estimated movement update signal representing the estimated relative movement of the handheld optical pointing device with respect to the surface during more than one of the plurality of measurement cycles.

Abstract: An optical mouse includes a housing movable across a work surface with a source of non-coherent light in the movable housing for illuminating the work surface at a low or grazing angle of incidence, and may include a two dimensional array of photodetectors, each of which may produce an output in response to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated work surface. The housing may include a memory for storing the photodetector outputs captured at one or more times. Circuitry in the housing may track movement of the housing relative to the work surface by comparing at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a first time with at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a second time depending upon whether a characteristic condition in the photo detector outputs, such as uniformity, is detected.

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 hand operated pointing device for use with a computer includes a movable housing, a source of non-coherent light illuminating a work surface and circuitry in the movable housing using arrays of data related to light reflected by the illuminated work surface to produce values by processing portions of a first array with portions of a second array. One of the values may be identified to represent movement of the housing relative to the work surface. The light may illuminate surface irregularities at an angle of incidence low enough to produce suitable arrays of data for processing from highlights and shadows of the illuminated surface irregularities. The circuitry may produce additional values by processing another selected portion of the first array with portions of a third array or may select a fourth array for processing with the third array. Predictions may be derived from the values.

Abstract: Movement of a hand operated pointing device may be tracked by providing a source of non-coherent light in a movable housing for illuminating a work surface and providing circuitry for producing a plurality of two dimensional arrays of data related to light reflected by surface irregularities on the illuminated work surface and for processing a first array with a second array to track movement of the housing relative to the illuminated work surface. Circuitry may be provided for processing the first array with the second array to predict further movement of the housing relative to the illuminated work surface. Circuitry may be provided for selecting a different portion of the first array in accordance with the prediction for processing with a third array to track further movement of the housing. Circuitry may be provided for determining validity of the tracked movement and sending a signal to a computer related to the tracked movement unless the tracked movement is determined not to be valid.

Abstract: A computer cursor control device includes (1) a light source generating light directed toward a stationary surface, (2) an optional phase modulator, (3) an optional function generator causing the phase modulator to periodically phase shift the light, and (4) a signal processor determining a direction in which the device is moving from a beat frequency or an asymmetry in the light intensity. Another computer cursor control device includes (1) an optical element combining reference and measurement beams to form a heterodyned beam, (2) a phase modulator located in an optical path of the reference beam or the measurement beam, (3) a function generator causing the phase modulator to phase shift the reference beam, and (4) a signal processor determining a direction in which the device is moving from a beat frequency of the heterodyned beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer includes a movement sensor for sensing relative movement between the apparatus and a surface, and generating corresponding movement data. The movement sensor is configured to generate compressed data representing the movement data. The apparatus includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the compressed data.

Abstract: An electronic device able to detect a user in close proximity. The device may be a wireless data input device, for example, a radio frequency computer mouse. The device has power management features that do not require complex hardware or software to implement. For example, an antenna that is normally used for radio transmission is monitored. The power management features of the electronic device are able to detect a change in an operating characteristic of the antenna that is indicative of a user in close proximity thereto. For example, when the user touches a computer mouse, the resonant frequency of a circuit comprising the antenna changes due to capacitive loading of the antenna. The power management features cause the electronic device to be operated in a sleep mode or a radio transmission mode, depending on whether the user is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking attitude of a device includes fixing a two-dimensional array of photosensors to the device and using the array to form a reference frame and a sample frame of images. The fields of view of the sample and reference frames largely overlap, so that there are common imaged features from frame to frame. Sample frames are correlated with the reference frame to detect differences in location of the common features. Based upon detection of correlations of features, an attitudinal signal indicative of pitch, yaw, and/or roll is generated. In the preferred embodiment, the attitudinal signal is used to manipulate a screen cursor of a display system, such as a remote interactive video system (RIVS). However, attitudinal tracking using the invention may be employed in other applications.