METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONFIGURING OPTICAL INPUT DEVICE AND RELATED OPTICAL INPUT SYSTEM

1 . A method of configuring an optical input device, the optical input device including a movable unit and a sensing device, the movable unit being arranged to move within a predetermined movement range, the sensing device being arranged to detect a position within the predetermined movement range at which the movable unit is located, the method comprising:

adjusting an optical setting of the sensing device to obtain an optimal dynamic range of the sensing device; and

determining a valid input threshold of the optical input device based on the optimal dynamic range.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the optical setting comprises:

determining an optimal light intensity corresponding to a light source of the sensing device according to a sensed value that is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position.

3 . The method of claim. 2 , wherein the step of determining the optimal light intensity comprises:

obtaining the sensed value based on a current light intensity of the light source;

determining whether the sensed value is equal to a sensed value upper limit;

setting the current light intensity to be the optimal light intensity when the sensed value is equal to the sensed value upper limit; and

increasing the current light intensity when the sensed value is lower than the sensed value upper limit.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the optical setting of the sensing device comprises:

determining an optimal light sensitivity corresponding to a sensor of the sensing device according to a sensed value that is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position.

5 . The method of claim. 4 , wherein the step of determining the optimal light sensitivity comprises:

obtaining the sensed value based on a current light sensitivity of the sensor;

comparing the sensed value with a sensed value upper limit;

decreasing the current light sensitivity when the sensed value is equal to the sensed value upper limit; and

increasing the current light sensitivity when the sensed value is lower than the sensed value upper limit.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the valid input threshold corresponding to the optical input device comprises:

setting a sensed value to be the valid input threshold, wherein the sensed value is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position within the predetermined movement range.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the valid input threshold corresponding to the optical input device comprises:

determining a sensed value upper limit and a sensed value lower limit of the optimal dynamic range; and

determining a correspondence between each sensed value and each position of the movable unit within the predetermined movement range.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of determining the valid input threshold corresponding to the optical input device comprises:

referring to the correspondence to obtain a specific sensed value corresponding to a specific position of the movable unit within the predetermined movement range; and

configuring the valid input threshold according to the specific sensed value.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of determining the valid input threshold corresponding to the optical input device comprises:

recording a plurality of stop positions of the movable unit;

determining a common position based on the plurality of stop positions;

referring to the correspondence to obtain a specific sensed value corresponding to the common position; and

configuring the valid input threshold according to the specific sensed value.

10 . A configuration device for configuring an optical input device, the optical input device including a movable unit and a sensing device, the movable unit being arranged to move within a predetermined movement range, the sensing device being arranged to detect a position within the predetermined movement range at which the movable unit is located, the configuration device comprising:

a parameter setting unit, arranged to adjust an optical setting of the sensing device to obtain an optimal dynamic range of the sensing device; and

a threshold setting unit, arranged to determine a valid input threshold corresponding to the optical input device based on the optimal dynamic range.

11 . The configuration device of claim 10 , wherein the parameter setting unit is arranged to determine an optimal light intensity corresponding to a light source of the sensing device according to a sensed value that is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position.

12 . The configuration device of claim 11 , wherein the parameter setting unit is arranged to:

obtain the sensed value based on a current light intensity of the light source;

set the current light intensity to be the optimal light intensity when the sensed value is equal to the sensed value upper limit; and

increase the current light intensity when the sensed value is lower than the sensed value upper limit.

13 . The configuration device of claim 10 , wherein the parameter setting unit is arranged to determine an optimal light sensitivity corresponding to a sensor of the sensing device according to a sensed value that is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position.

14 . The configuration device of claim 13 , wherein the parameter setting unit is arranged to:

obtain the sensed value based on a current light sensitivity of the sensor;

compare the sensed value with a sensed value upper limit;

decrease the current light sensitivity when the sensed value is equal to the sensed value upper limit; and

increase the current light sensitivity when the sensed value is lower than the sensed value upper limit.

15 . The configuration device of claim 10 , wherein the threshold setting unit is arranged to set a sensed value to be the valid input threshold, wherein the sensed value is obtained when the movable unit is located at a specific position within the predetermined movement range.

16 . The configuration device of claim 10 , wherein the threshold setting unit is arranged to determine a sensed value upper limit and a sensed value lower limit of the optimal dynamic range; and determine a correspondence between each sensed value and each position of the movable unit within the predetermined movement range.

17 . The configuration device of claim 16 , wherein the threshold setting unit is arranged to refer to the correspondence to obtain a specific sensed value corresponding to a specific position of the movable unit within the predetermined movement range; and configure the valid input threshold according to the specific sensed value.

18 . The configuration device of claim 16 , wherein the threshold setting unit is arranged to:

record a plurality of stop positions of the movable unit;

determine a common position based on the plurality of stop positions;

refer to the correspondence to obtain a specific sensed value corresponding to the common position; and

configure the valid input threshold according to the specific sensed value.

19 . A method of configuring an optical input system, wherein the optical input system includes a plurality of optical input devices, each optical input device includes a movable unit and a sensing device, the movable unit is arranged to move within a predetermined movement range, the sensing device is arranged to detect a position within the predetermined movement range at which the movable unit is located, and the method comprises:

with respect to each optical input device, adjusting an optical setting of the sensing device to obtain an optimal dynamic range of the sensing device; and

determining a valid input threshold corresponding to each optical input device based on the optimal dynamic range of each optical input device;

wherein the plurality of optical input devices correspond to at least two different valid input thresholds, respectively.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of determining the valid input threshold corresponding to each optical input device comprises:

determining the valid input threshold corresponding to each optical input device according to a relative location of each optical input device with respect to the optical input system.