Utilizing an internal reflection surface to reflect and collimate sidelight in an optical navigation device
View Patent ↗An optical navigation devices and methods that utilize an internal reflection surface to reflect and collimate sidelight from a light source are described. A light source is configured to emit light. The sidelight from the light source is reflected and collimated by an internal reflection surface towards a work surface. The light received by the sensor is used to measure movement of the optical navigation device relative to the work surface.
1. An optical navigation device comprising:
a light source disposed to emit light, including sidelight;
a reflection surface disposed to reflect at least some of said light from said light source to a work surface;
an internal reflection surface disposed to reflect at least some of said sidelight from said light source toward said reflection surface to be reflected to said work surface by said reflection surface; and
a sensor disposed to receive light reflected from said work surface, wherein light received by said sensor is used to measure movement of said optical navigation device relative to said work surface.
2. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said light source is a bare light emitting diode die.
3. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said light source is a packaged light emitting diode.
4. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said internal reflection surface comprises a total internal reflection (TIR) surface.
5. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said internal reflection surface comprises a parabolic shape.
6. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said internal reflection surface comprises a hyperbolic shape.
7. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor imager.
8. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , further comprising a stray light control to reduce the quantity of stray light reaching said sensor, wherein said stray light control comprises an internal reflection wedge.
9. An optical navigation device comprising:
a light source disposed to emit light;
a sensor disposed to receive light reflected from a work surface, wherein light received by said sensor is used to measure movement of said optical navigation device relative to said work surface; and
a stray light control to reduce the quantity of stray light reaching said sensor,
wherein said stray light control comprises an internal reflection wedge.
10. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein said light source is a bare light emitting diode die.
11. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein said light source is a packaged light emitting diode.
12. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein said stray light control comprises a groove design.
13. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein said sensor comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor imager.
14. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein said sensor comprises a charge-coupled device imager.
15. An integrated optical piece comprising:
a bare light emitting diode die disposed to emit light that includes sidelight, wherein said bare light emitting diode die is attached to said integrated optical piece using surface mount technology;
a reflection surface disposed to reflect at least some of said light from said light source to a work surface;
an internal reflection surface disposed to reflect at least some of said sidelight from said light source toward said reflection surface to be reflected to said work surface by said reflection surface; and
a sensor disposed to receive light reflected from said work surface, wherein light received by said sensor is used to measure movement of said optical navigation device relative to said work surface.
16. The integrated optical piece of claim 15 , wherein said sensor comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor imager.
17. The integrated optical piece of claim 15 , wherein said sensor comprises a charge-coupled device imager.
18. The integrated optical piece of claim 15 , wherein said surface mount technology is compatible with automated assembly.
19. An optical navigation method comprising:
emitting light with a light source, wherein said light comprises sidelight;
reflecting at least some of said light from said light source with a reflection surface toward a work surface;
reflecting at least some of said sidelight from said light source with an internal reflection surface toward the reflection surface to be reflected to said work surface by said reflection surface; and
receiving said light at a sensor, wherein said light received at said sensor is used to measure movement of an optical navigation device relative to said work surface.
20. The optical navigation method of claim 19 , wherein said light source is a bare light emitting diode die.
21. The optical navigation method of claim 19 , wherein said light source is a light emitting diode package.
22. The optical navigation method of claim 19 , further comprises reducing stray light from reaching said sensor with a stray light control.
23. The optical navigation method of claim 22 , wherein said stray light control comprises a groove design.
24. The optical navigation method of claim 22 , wherein said stray light control comprises an internal reflection wedge.