Optical navigation module with capacitive sensor

US9103658B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cypress Semiconductor Corporation · US

Inventors

• Jinghui Mu · San Jose, US
• Brett A. Spurlock · Los Altos, US
• Yansun Xu · Mountain View, US
• John Frame · Pullman, US
• KeCai Zeng · Fremont, US
• Brian Todoroff · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 11, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/0421
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Optical navigation modules and methods of operating the same to sense relative movement between the optical navigation module and a tracking surface are provided. In one embodiment, the optical navigation module comprises: (i) a light source to illuminate at least a portion of a surface relative to which the optical navigation module is moved; (ii) an integrated circuit (IC) including a photo-detector array (PDA) to detect a light pattern propagated onto the PDA from the surface, and a signal processor to translate changes in the light pattern propagated onto the PDA into data representing motion of the optical navigation module relative to the surface; and (iii) a substrate to which the light source and IC are mounted, the substrate including an aperture in a light path between the surface and the PDA. Other embodiments are also disclosed.