Optical navigation system having a ring pixel array
View Patent ↗An optical navigation system having an optical navigation integrated circuit (“navigation IC”) is described. The optical navigation system may include an emitter module and a pixel array surrounding the emitter module. The optical navigation system may further include a ring optical system located on the surface of the navigation IC over the pixel array.
1. An optical navigation system, comprising:
an optical navigation integrated circuit;
an emitter module including at least one light source configured to emit optical radiation toward a navigation surface;
a pixel array surrounding the emitter module, said pixel array having a plurality of photo-detectors configured to receive optical radiation reflected by the navigation surface, and wherein the received optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected by the navigation surface; and
a ring optical system located on the surface of the optical navigation integrated circuit over the pixel array,
wherein the ring optical system is configured to collimate reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation, and
wherein the reflected optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected toward the pixel array by the navigation surface.
2. The optical navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photo-detectors are configured to receive the collimated beam of optical radiation.
3. The optical navigation system of claim 2 , wherein at least one light source is chosen from a group consisting of at least one diode, light emitting diode, photo-cathode, laser, and light bulb.
4. The optical navigation system of claim 3 , wherein the photo-detectors are chosen from a group consisting of photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and photo-multipliers.
5. The optical navigation system of claim 4 , wherein the light source is configured to emit optical radiation in wavelength range chosen from a group consisting of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet, and x-ray radiation.
6. The optical navigation system of claim 5 , wherein the laser is a Vertical Cavity Semiconductor Emitting Laser.
7. The optical navigational system of claim 5 , wherein the optical navigation system is located within a computer mouse.
8. The optical navigational system of claim 5 , wherein the emitter module and pixel array are located within the optical navigation integrated circuit.
9. The optical navigational system of claim 5 , wherein the emitter module is located on a surface of the optical navigation integrated circuit and the pixel array is located within the optical navigation integrated circuit.
10. A method for using a navigation system, the method comprising:
emitting optical radiation from an emitter module to a navigation surface;
receiving reflected optical radiation from the navigation surface at a pixel array surrounding the emitter module; and
utilizing reflected optical radiation to detect navigation of an optical navigation system on the navigation surface;
wherein receiving reflected optical radiation further includes:
collimating the reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation; and
receiving the collimated beam of optical radiation at the pixel array, wherein the reflected optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected toward the pixel array by the navigation surface.
11. An optical navigation system, comprising:
an optical navigation integrated circuit;
means for emitting optical radiation including at least one light source configured to emit optical radiation toward a navigation surface;
a pixel array surrounding the means for emitting optical radiation, the pixel array including a plurality of photo-detectors configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the navigation surface; and
means for collimating reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation, wherein the reflected optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected toward the pixel array by the navigation surface.
12. The optical navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of photo-detectors are configured to receive the collimated beam of optical radiation.
13. The optical navigation system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one light source is chosen from a group consisting of at least one diode, light emitting diode, photo-cathode, laser, and light bulb, wherein the photo-detectors are chosen from a group consisting of photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and photo-multipliers, and wherein the light source is configured to emit optical radiation in wavelength range chosen from a group consisting of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet, and x-ray radiation.
14. An optical navigation system, comprising:
an optical navigation integrated circuit;
an emitter module;
a pixel array surrounding the emitter module; and
a ring optical system including a first optical element optically aligned with the emitter module for receiving optical radiation from the emitter module and a second optical element optically aligned with the pixel array for directing optical radiation to the pixel array.
15. The optical navigation system of claim 14 , wherein the second optical element is coaxially disposed about the first optical element.
16. The optical navigation system of claim 14 , wherein the first optical element is integrally formed with the second optical element.
17. The optical navigation system of claim 14 , wherein the pixel array includes a plurality of photo-detectors arranged in a ring shape surrounding the emitter module.