Abstract: There is provided an optical navigation device including a substrate, a light sensor, a first light source, a second light source and a light directing member. The light sensor is arranged on the substrate and has a field of view (FOV) perpendicular to the substrate. The emission light of the first light source forms a first illumination light beam after passing the light directing member. The emission light of the second light source forms a second illumination light beam after passing the light directing member. A first crossover region of the first illumination light beam with the FOV is closer to the substrate than a second crossover region of the second illumination light beam with the FOV.

Abstract: There is provided a navigation device including a light source, a light guide and a light sensor. The navigation device is operated relative to a work surface. The light source generates an illumination beam passing through the light guide to generate an illuminated area on the work surface. The light sensor receives reflected light from the illuminated area via the light guide. When a working gap between the navigation device and the work surface is increased, a first size of the illuminated area in a first direction is substantially identical to a first initial size of the illumination beam in the first direction after just leaving the light guide, and a second size of the illuminated area in a second direction is smaller than a second initial size of the illumination beam in the second direction after just leaving the light guide.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a casing, a circuit board, an illumination light source and an optical receiver. The casing is movably located above a navigation surface. The circuit board is disposed inside the casing. The illumination light source is disposed on the circuit board and adapted to provide an illumination channel toward the navigation surface. The optical receiver is disposed adjacent to the illumination light source. An imaging channel of the optical receiver is substantially parallel to a planar normal vector of the navigation surface, and the optical receiver is adapted to identify features on the navigation surface within a range crossed by the imaging channel and the illumination channel for providing navigation information.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise, low-cost, compact, optical encoders having a multi-faceted flat-faced lens is disposed over the light emitters and light detectors thereof. Disclosed also are various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise, low-cost, compact, optical encoders having a multi-faceted flat-faced lens disposed over the light emitters and light detectors thereof. Disclosed also are various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder.

Abstract: An optical navigation system with optical imaging of multiple inputs using a single navigation sensor. The optical navigation system includes a tactile interface device, an image sensor, and a processor. The tactile interface device facilitates a navigation input. The image sensor intermittently generates images of a surface of the tactile interface device and images of a contact navigation surface. The image sensor also generates the images of the surface of the tactile interface device exclusive of the images of the contact navigation surface. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor generates a first navigation signal based on the images of the tactile interface device and generates a second navigation signal based on the images of the contact navigation surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise optical encoders having various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Also disclosed are compact single track optical encoders having a single dome lens disposed thereover, and dual track triple dome lens optical encoders. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise, low-cost, compact, optical encoders having a multi-faceted flat-faced lens disposed over the light emitters and light detectors thereof. Disclosed also are various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a number of different embodiments of reflective multi-turn optical encoders with different light sensing systems. Three different basic configurations of reflective multi-turn optical encoder light sensing systems are disclosed herein: (a) optical encoders employing multiple arrays of light detectors; (b) optical encoders employing multiple arrays of stacked die light sensors, and (c) optical encoders employing variable tone density light sensing systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise optical encoders having various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Also disclosed are compact single track optical encoders having a single dome lens disposed thereover, and dual track triple dome lens optical encoders. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical emitter receiving an optical emitter current, an optical sensor receiving an optical sensor current and light from the optical emitter and in response thereto outputting at least one signal indicating relative movement between the optical unit and an optical code scale, and an optical sensor current detector comparing the optical sensor current to a reference value. In response to the optical sensor current being different than the reference value, the optical sensor current detector outputs an optical sensor current detector signal. The optical sensor current detector signal indicates the presence of a contaminant in a light path from the optical emitter to the optical sensor, and is used to regulate the current to the optical emitter so as to counteract the negative effects of the contaminant in the light path.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise optical encoders having various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Also disclosed are compact single track optical encoders having a single dome lens disposed thereover, and dual track triple dome lens optical encoders. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a media type of a print medium. Embodiments of the apparatus include an emitter, a polarization filter, and a detector. The emitter is configured to emit light toward a surface of the print medium. The polarization filter is configured to filter polarized light reflected from the surface of the medium. The detector is coupled to the polarization filter and configured to detect the filtered light. The detector is also configured to generate an electrical signal representative of the detected light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a number of different embodiments of reflective multi-turn optical encoders with different light sensing systems. Three different basic configurations of reflective multi-turn optical encoder light sensing systems are disclosed herein: (a) optical encoders employing multiple arrays of light detectors; (b) optical encoders employing multiple arrays of stacked die light sensors, and (c) optical encoders employing variable tone density light sensing systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise optical encoders having various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Also disclosed are compact single track optical encoders having a single dome lens disposed thereover, and dual track triple dome lens optical encoders. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.

Abstract: An encoder having a code scale, an illumination system, and a plurality of photodetectors is disclosed. The code scale has a plurality of tracks that are illuminated by the illumination system. Each photodetector receives light from a corresponding one of the tracks and generates a signal indicative of a quantity of light received from that track. Each photodetector is limited to detecting light in a band of wavelengths corresponding to that track. Each track generates light in a band of wavelengths corresponding to that track, and the band of wavelengths corresponding to one of the tracks is different from the band of wavelengths corresponding to the tracks that are next to that track. The tracks can include alternating reflective and absorptive stripes, alternating transmissive and reflective stripes, or alternating luminescent and absorptive stripes.

Abstract: There is disclosed optical encoder apparatus for removable connection with a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a light emitting component, a light detecting component, a mounting component for attaching the light emitting component thereon, and another mounting component for attaching the light detecting component thereon, wherein each of the mounting components have a removable connection with the printed circuit board. A method of assembling optical encoder apparatus is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes attaching a light emitting component and a terminal of a first mounting component to one another; attaching a light detecting component and a terminal of a second mounting component to one another; attaching a terminal of the first mounting component to a printed circuit board; and attaching a terminal of the second mounting component to the printed circuit board. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical navigation system with optical imaging of multiple inputs using a single navigation sensor. The optical navigation system includes a tactile interface device, an image sensor, and a processor. The tactile interface device facilitates a navigation input. The image sensor intermittently generates images of a surface of the tactile interface device and images of a contact navigation surface. The image sensor also generates the images of the surface of the tactile interface device exclusive of the images of the contact navigation surface. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor generates a first navigation signal based on the images of the tactile interface device and generates a second navigation signal based on the images of the contact navigation surface.

Abstract: A polaroid encoder system for detecting movement is disclosed. The system includes a movable polarizing code element. A detector module detects an amplitude based on how much illumination passes through one portion of the movable polarizing code element. A quadrant of the movable polarizing code element is determined based on how much illumination passes through another portion of the movable polarizing code element. The angular position of the movable polarizing code element can then be determined by using amplitude and the quadrant information.

Abstract: A directional input device with a light directing shaft that avoids wear and tear caused by physical contact between a shaft and a sensor surface. A directional input device according to the present teachings includes a light emitter and a shaft having a surface that reflects light from the light emitter. A directional input device according to the present teachings further includes a set of light sensing elements that are positioned to detect a position of the shaft by sensing light reflected from the shaft.