Optical navigation device adapted for navigation on a transparent structure
View Patent ↗A technique for adapting an optical navigation device for navigation on a transparent structure such as a glass plate involves establishing a navigation window for navigation tracking, detecting reflected light within the navigation window, generating an output signal in response to the detected light, and adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window in response to the output signal. An optical navigation device includes an illumination system configured to output light, an image sensor configured to generate an output signal related to a detected portion of the light, and a transparent structure adapter module configured to adjust a navigation window of the image sensor in response to the output signal to adapt the optical navigation device for use directly on an opaque surface or for use on a transparent structure that is located between the optical navigation device and the opaque surface.
1. A method for adapting an optical navigation device for navigation on a transparent structure where the transparent structure overlays an opaque surface, the method comprising:
establishing a navigation window for navigation tracking;
detecting reflected light within the navigation window;
generating an output signal in response to the detected light; and
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window in response to the output signal, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises:
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window to primarily detect light that is reflected from the opaque surface when the amount of detected light that is reflected from the opaque surface is greater than the amount of detected light that is reflected from a top surface of the transparent structure; and
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window to primarily detect light that is reflected from the top surface of the transparent structure when the amount of detected light that is reflected from the top surface of the transparent structure is greater than the amount of detected light that is reflected from the opaque surface.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation window is adjusted to optimize the output signal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the position of the navigation window.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein changing the position of the navigation window comprises changing the activation state of pixels in an image sensor of the optical navigation device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the size of the navigation window.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein changing the size of the navigation window comprises changing the activation state of pixels in an image sensor of the optical navigation device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the shape of the navigation window.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting an illumination characteristic of the optical navigation device when the distance between the optical navigation device and the opaque surface changes from a first distance.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting an illumination characteristic comprises changing a characteristic of an illumination spot.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation window comprises a set of pixels in an image sensor which captures image data that is cross-correlated to generate movement information.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the activation state of pixels in the image sensor of the optical navigation device.
12. A method for adapting an optical navigation device for navigation on a transparent structure where the transparent structure overlays an opaque surface, the method comprising:
establishing a navigation window;
outputting light towards the transparent structure and the opaque surface;
detecting reflected light within the navigation window; and
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window in response to the detected light to select whether the navigation window detects reflected light primarily from a surface of the transparent structure or primarily from the opaque surface.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the navigation window comprises a set of pixels in an image sensor which captures image data that is cross-correlated to generate movement information.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the activation state of pixels in the image sensor.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the size of the navigation window.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises changing the position of the navigation window.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein a characteristic of the navigation window is changed to optimize signal strength from an image sensor of the optical navigation device.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein a characteristic of the navigation window is changed to align the navigation window with reflected light primarily from the illuminated spot on the opaque surface.
19. An optical navigation device comprising:
an illumination system configured to output light;
an image sensor configured to generate an output signal related to a detected portion of the light; and
a transparent structure adaptor module configured to adjust a navigation window of the image sensor in response to the output signal to adapt the optical navigation device for use directly on an opaque surface or for use on a transparent structure that is located between the optical navigation device and the opaque surface, wherein the transparent structure adaptor module comprises a window control module configured to adjust a characteristic of the navigation window in response to feedback from the image sensor, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window comprises:
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window to primarily detect light that is reflected from the opaque surface when the amount of detected light that is reflected from the opaque surface is greater than the amount of detected light that is reflected from a top surface of the transparent structure; and
adjusting a characteristic of the navigation window to primarily detect light that is reflected from the top surface of the transparent structure when the amount of detected light that is reflected from the top surface of the transparent structure is greater than the amount of detected light that is reflected from the opaque surface.
20. The optical navigation device of claim 19 wherein a characteristic of the navigation window is adjusted by changing the activation state of pixels in the image sensor.
21. The optical navigation device of claim 19 wherein the transparent structure adaptor module comprises an illumination control module configured to adjust the illumination of the opaque surface in response to the feedback from the image sensor.