Signal monitoring and control system for an optical navigation sensor
US8541728B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/4228
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A circuit and method are provided to control the strength of signals from an array of photo-detectors in an optical navigation sensor. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a current signal from an automatic gain control (AGC) photo-detector and generating an AGC signal in response thereto; generating an illumination control signal in response to the AGC signal; and coupling the illumination control signal to an illuminator configured to illuminate at least a portion of an array of photo-detectors with light reflected from a surface to sense displacement of the optical navigation sensor relative to a surface, and adjusting illumination from the illuminator. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.