Optical navigation device with illumination optics having an image outside a detector field of view
View Patent ↗An optical navigation device includes an image sensor, a light source, and illumination optics. The image sensor generates images of a tracking surface. The image sensor has a field of view via imaging optics interposed between the image sensor and the tracking surface. The light source generates light to illuminate a portion of the tracking surface. The illumination optics are interposed between the light source and the tracking surface to direct the light from the light source toward the tracking surface. The illumination optics include an output surface with a primary region illuminated above a threshold intensity. The illumination optics are located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the output surface excludes the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
1. An optical navigation device comprising:
an image sensor to generate images of a tracking surface, wherein the image sensor has a field of view via imaging optics interposed between the image sensor and the tracking surface;
a light source to generate light to illuminate a portion of the tracking surface; and
illumination optics interposed between the light source and the tracking surface to direct the light from the light source toward the tracking surface, wherein the illumination optics comprise an output surface with a primary region of the output surface illuminated above a threshold intensity, wherein a primary direction of propagation of the light from the output surface of the illumination optics is the same as a primary direction of propagation of the light into the illumination optics;
wherein the illumination optics are located relative to the tracking surface so that, during a navigation mode, a mirror image of the output surface, relative to the tracking surface, is located to exclude the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
2. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the tracking surface is a primary interface of a tracking material, and the tracking material comprises a secondary interface opposite the primary interface, wherein the illumination optics are located relative to the primary interface so that a corresponding primary image of the output surface is located to exclude the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
3. The optical navigation device of claim 2 , wherein the illumination optics are further located relative to the secondary interface so that a corresponding secondary image of the output surface is located to exclude the primary region outside of the field of view of the image sensor.
4. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein a secondary region of the output surface is illuminated below the threshold intensity, wherein the illumination optics are further located relative to the tracking surface so that the image of the output surface is located to include at least a portion of the secondary region within the field of view of the image sensor.
5. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the illumination optics comprise an optical lens and the output surface comprises an exit surface of the optical lens, wherein the optical lens is located at a position defined by a zenith angle, an azimuth angle, and a distance relative to a reference origin approximately at a center of the field of view at the tracking surface.
6. The optical navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the position of the optical lens is relative to a reference position, which varies from the position of the optical lens by a change in only the zenith angle, wherein placement of the optical lens at the reference position would render an image of the primary region at least partially inside of the field of view of the image sensor.
7. The optical navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the position of the optical lens is relative to a reference position, which varies from the position of the optical lens by a change in only the azimuth angle, wherein placement of the optical lens at the reference position would render an image of the primary region at least partially inside of the field of view of the image sensor.
8. The optical navigation device of claim 5 , wherein the position of the optical lens is relative to a reference position, which varies from the position of the optical lens by a change in only the distance relative to the reference origin, wherein placement of the optical lens at the reference position would render an image of the primary region at least partially inside of the field of view of the image sensor.
9. The optical navigation device of claim 1 , wherein the illumination optics comprise:
a primary optical element to direct the light in a first direction substantially away from the tracking surface, wherein a primary region of the primary optical element is illuminated above the threshold intensity; and
a secondary optical element to redirect the light from the first direction to a second direction substantially toward the tracking surface, wherein a primary region of the secondary optical element is illuminated above the threshold intensity.
10. The optical navigation device of claim 9 , wherein the primary optical element is located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the primary optical element is located to exclude the primary region of the primary optical element from the field of view of the image sensor.
11. The optical navigation device of claim 10 , wherein the secondary optical element is located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the secondary optical element is located to exclude the primary region of the secondary optical element from the field of view of the image sensor.
12. An optical navigation device comprising:
an image sensor to generate images of a tracking surface, wherein the image sensor has a field of view inclusive of at least a portion of the tracking surface, wherein a restricted region reflecting away from the tracking surface substantially corresponds to the field of view of the image sensor; and
illumination optics to direct light from a light source toward the tracking surface, wherein a primary region of an illuminated output surface is illuminated above a threshold intensity, wherein a primary direction of propagation of the light from the output surface of the illumination optics is the same as a primary direction of propagation of the light into the illumination optics, and the primary region of the illuminated output surface located outside of the restricted region so that, during a navigation mode, a mirror image of the output surface relative to the tracking surface excludes the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
13. The optical navigation device of claim 12 , wherein a secondary region of the output surface is illuminated below the threshold intensity, wherein the illumination optics are further located relative to the tracking surface so that the image of the output surface includes at least a portion of the secondary region within the field of view of the image sensor.
14. The optical navigation device of claim 12 , wherein, relative to primary and secondary interfaces of a tracking material, corresponding primary and secondary images are located to exclude primary regions of the output surface illuminated above the threshold intensity from the field of view of the image sensor.
15. The optical navigation device of claim 12 , further comprising imaging optics interposed between the image sensor and the tracking surface, wherein the imaging optics at least partially establish the field of view of the image sensor.
16. The optical navigation device of claim 12 , wherein the illumination optics comprise:
a primary optical element to direct the light in a first direction substantially away from the tracking surface, wherein a primary region of the primary optical element is illuminated above the threshold intensity; and
a secondary optical element to redirect the light from the first direction to a second direction toward the tracking surface, wherein a primary region of the secondary optical element is illuminated above the threshold intensity;
wherein the primary optical element is located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the primary optical element is located to exclude the primary region of the primary optical element from the field of view of the image sensor.
17. The optical navigation device of claim 16 , wherein the secondary optical element is located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the secondary optical element is located to exclude the primary region of the secondary optical element from the field of view of the image sensor.
18. A method for operating an optical navigation device, the method comprising:
generating light from a light source;
directing the light via illumination optics toward a tracking surface, wherein the illumination optics comprise an output surface, wherein a primary region of the output surface is illuminated above a threshold intensity, wherein a primary direction of propagation of the light from the output surface of the illumination optics is the same as a primary direction of propagation of the light into the illumination optics; and
using an image sensor to generate a navigation image of the tracking surface, wherein the image sensor has a field of view inclusive of the tracking surface;
wherein the illumination optics are located relative to the tracking surface so that, during a navigation mode, a mirror image of the output surface, relative to the tracking surface, is located to exclude the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a secondary region of the output surface is illuminated below the threshold intensity, wherein the illumination optics are further located relative to the tracking surface so that the image of the output surface is located to include at least a portion of the secondary region within the field of view of the image sensor.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the illumination optics are further located relative to the tracking surface and a secondary surface so that corresponding primary and secondary images exclude primary regions of the output surface illuminated above the threshold intensity from the field of view of the image sensor.