Abstract: A mobile communications device includes an antenna, a navigation pad and a signal processor. The antenna, navigation pad, and signal processor cooperate to encode and transmit motion signals from the navigation pad to a computer so that the mobile communications device functions as a pointing device for the computer.

Abstract: An optical navigation device is provided for detecting movement of a pointer, such as a finger, in three dimensions. A sensor obtains images of the pointer which have been illuminated by an illumination source, and an image scaling module determines the difference in size between images acquired by the image sensor to determine the difference in height of the pointer between images.

Abstract: An optical navigation device may include an image sensor with an imaging surface, a laser, and an optical waveguide layer having an exposed user surface and a total internal reflection (TIR) surface on the underside of the exposed user surface. The waveguide layer, the laser, and the image sensor may be together arranged to direct radiation emitted by the laser onto the imaging surface at least partly by total internal reflection by the TIR surface.

Abstract: A sensor module has first and second sensor arrays formed on a substrate, with the first and second sensor arrays adapted to share common readout circuitry and shared read out for a pair of sensors on a single array.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.

Abstract: Ambient light is detected by a photodiode circuit by measuring the time taken for a digital output of the photodiode circuit to change state in response to exposure of a photodiode of the photodiode circuit to that ambient light. A nominal time for state change is calculated based on photodiode circuit characteristics. Furthermore, an effective time for the photodiode circuit digital output to change state is determined in a calibration mode where the photodiode has been disconnected and a reference current is applied to the circuit. An illumination value of the detected ambient light is then calculated as a function of: the measured time, the effective time and the nominal time.

Abstract: A touch pad uses a plurality of optical mouse type sensors. The sensors are optimized for detection of motion along the predominant direction of a user's finger as the finger is moved around the touch pad. A first one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a first direction, while a second one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a second, different, direction. The first and second directions are oriented a closed, for example, circular, path.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.

Abstract: An optical navigation device is provided for detecting movement of a pointer, such as a finger, in three dimensions. A sensor obtains images of the pointer which have been illuminated by an illumination source, and an image scaling module determines the difference in size between images acquired by the image sensor to determine the difference in height of the pointer between images.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, a digital to analog converter for providing a ramp signal, A comparator for comparing the output level of each pixel to said ramp signal, and memory for storing the digital value that corresponds to said output level for each pixel, the sensor apparatus thereby converting the analog output level of each pixel to a digital value. The apparatus operates by providing an analog output that is sourced from the digital to analog converter used to provide said ramp signal.

Abstract: An optical mouse includes an image sensor for providing image data via an analog-to-digital converter to a correlation circuit and a motion estimation circuit to provide output signals representative of motion of the mouse. The output signals may be disabled when the mouse is lifted away from the working surface. This may be achieved by high-pass filtering the signals, summing each frame in a summer to provide a single value, and comparing this to a threshold. If the filtered and summed value exceeds the threshold, this may indicate that the image contains in-focus objects, and that the mouse is on the working surface.

Abstract: A camera is mounted in a sphere-shaped housing. The housing can be rotated within a base that permits the camera to take multiple images covering a panoramic view. Motion of the housing within the base is detected by motion sensors that provide positional information for allowing the images to be stitched together. The motion sensors are optical mice sensors. Processing circuitry and a power supply may be located within the housing.

Abstract: A sensor for an optical device includes an array of pixels in rows and columns which detect and process illumination falling thereon so as to identify inputs generated by a user on a surface of the optical device. A second reset period of variable length between a black calibration phase and an integration phase occurs in a processing cycle of a frame for each pixel, wherein the length of the second reset period is adjusted based on the ambient light conditions.

Abstract: An optical navigation device may include an image sensor with an imaging surface, a laser, and an optical waveguide layer having an exposed user surface and a total internal reflection (TIR) surface on the underside of the exposed user surface. The waveguide layer, the laser, and the image sensor may be together arranged to direct radiation emitted by the laser onto the imaging surface at least partly by total internal reflection by the TIR surface.

Abstract: Data is encoded on an image sensor that has a plurality of pixels including one or more bio-sensing pixels and one or more data encoding pixels. The method includes applying a covering material selectively to the data encoding pixels depending on the data to be encoded, the covering material having a detectable difference in opacity relative to having no covering material present. The method includes reading the data encoding pixels, in the presence of light, and decoding data according to a pre-determined scheme depending on the presence of the covering material on the data encoding pixel. As bio-reagents are typically applied after manufacture of the image sensor, the image sensor can have information encoded for electronic detection subsequent to manufacture.

Abstract: A module is configured to control an electronic device equipped with an optical receiver for wireless remote control. The module includes a face detection circuit that detects the presence of a face within an area proximate to the electronic device. An optical transmission circuit operates to transmit an optical control signal to the electronic device in response a detected change in face detection status made by the face detection circuit. To assist operation of the face detection circuit, the optical transmission circuit is further configured to illuminate an area proximate to the electronic device.

Abstract: A sensor for an optical device includes an array of pixels in rows and columns which detect and process illumination falling thereon so as to identify inputs generated by a user on a surface of the optical device. A second reset period of variable length between a black calibration phase and an integration phase occurs in a processing cycle of a frame for each pixel, wherein the length of the second reset period is adjusted based on the ambient light conditions.

Abstract: In a fingermouse image sensor, an array of radiation sensitive pixels is formed on an image sensing die at a position where the array of radiation sensitive pixels is formed off-center within the image sensing die. More specifically, the array of radiation sensitive pixels is formed as close as possible to an edge of the image sensing die. That image sensing die is mounted to a substrate at a position offset from a center of the substrate. More specifically, the image sensing die is positioned such that the edge of the image sensing die (where the array of radiation sensitive pixels is positioned) is adjacent an edge of the substrate.

Abstract: An array of image sensors are connected in a daisy chained arrangement. The sensors in the array are addressed on the basis of the number of pixels each of them processes.