Patent ID: 7791590
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An optical mouse for controlling the position of a pointer on a screen, the optical mouse comprising: a housing movable across a work surface; a source of light in the movable housing for illuminating the work surface; a two dimensional array of photo detectors in the housing, each of the photo detectors producing an output representing light received by the photo detectors; and circuitry in the housing to track movement of the housing relative to the work surface by comparing data derived from at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a first time with data derived from at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a second time, wherein the circuitry determines if the optical mouse is airborne by evaluating data derived from at least some of the photo detector outputs and suppresses motion signals to a computer if it is determined that the optical mouse is airborne.