Abstract:
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.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Non-mechanical tacking devices, such as computer mice, are quickly growing in popularity worldwide. Many of these non-mechanical tracking devices utilize optical navigation technology that measures the changes in position of the non-mechanical tracking devices by optically acquiring sequential surface images and mathematically determining the direction and magnitude of the movement.  
         [0002]     As an example, in a non-mechanical tracking device such as an optical mouse, optical navigation technology involves capturing an image and then analyzing and tracking the motion of microscopic texture or other features on a surface under the optical mouse. In general, these types of optical mice depend on tracking surface detail and most work surfaces are microscopically textured. When these surface textures are illuminated by a light source such as a light emitting diode (“LED”), a pattern of highlights and shadows is revealed. Optical mice then “watch” these surface details move by imaging them onto navigation integrated circuits (“navigation ICs”).  
         [0003]     In  FIG. 1 , an example of an implementation of a known non-mechanical device  100  is shown above a navigation surface  102 . The non-mechanical device  100  may include an optical navigation IC  104 , an emitter module  106  and a collimating system  108 . The optical navigation IC  104  may include a pixel array  110 . The emitter module  106  may include a light source (not shown) such as one or more LEDs and the pixel array  110  may include a plurality of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes. The collimating system  108  may include optics, such as lens, capable of collimating received optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation.  
         [0004]     In an example of operation, the emitter module  106  may emit emitted optical radiation  112  at the navigation surface  102  at a predetermined angle  114 . The emitted optical radiation  114  is then reflected by the navigation surface  102  resulting in reflected optical radiation  116  that is received by the collimating system  108 . The collimating system  108  then collimates the received reflected optical radiation  116  into a collimated beam  120  of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  110 .  
         [0005]     Unfortunately, the optical navigation IC  104  and emitter module  106  are not integrated into a signal component such as a single IC or wafer, which results in high costs of manufacture for the non-mechanical device  100  and yield issues relating to integrating separate subcomponents. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method capable of integrating the emitter module  106  and pixel array  110  into a single IC. The benefit is more obvious for a laser based illumination system because of the nature of the collimated light source and the steep angle requirement from the light source to the sensor.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     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 emitter module may include at least one light source configured to emit emitted optical radiation at a navigation surface. The pixel array may include a plurality of photo-detectors configured to receive received optical radiation reflected from the navigation surface, wherein the received optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected by the navigation surface. The optical navigation system may further include a ring optical system located on the surface of the navigation IC over the pixel array. The ring optical system may be configured to collimate reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation, where the reflected optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected towards the pixel array by the navigation surface.  
         [0007]     In an example of operation, the optical navigation system performs a process for navigating the optical navigation system on a navigation surface. The process may include emitting emitted optical radiation from an emitter module to the navigation surface and receiving reflected optical radiation from the navigation surface at a pixel array surrounding the emitter module. The sub-process of receiving reflected optical radiation may include collimating the reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation and receiving the collimated beam of optical radiation at the pixel array, where the reflected optical radiation is a portion of the emitted optical radiation reflected towards the pixel array by the navigation surface.  
         [0008]     Other systems, methods and features of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram side view of an example of an implementation of a known non-mechanical navigation device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram side view of an example of an implementation of an optical navigation system within a non-mechanical navigation device.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram side view of an example of another implementation of an optical navigation system within a non-mechanical navigation device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an example of an implementation of an optical navigation integrated circuit (“navigation IC”) shown in both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an example of an implementation of a ring optical system shown in both  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. Other examples of implementation may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]     In  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a side view an example of an implementation of an optical navigation system  200  within a non-mechanical navigation device  202  is shown above a navigation surface  204 . The optical navigation system  200  may include an optical navigation integrated circuit (“navigation IC”)  206  and a ring optical system  208 . The navigation IC  206  may include an emitter module  210  and a pixel array  212 . The navigation IC  206  may include a substrate that may be a single semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit, a lead-frame, an insert-molded lead-frame, a printed circuit board (“PCB”), flexible circuit, ceramics substrate or micro-interconnecting device (“MID”).  
         [0017]     The emitter module  210  may include a light source (not shown) such as one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), and the pixel array  212  may include a plurality of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes. The pixel array  212  is configured within the navigation IC  206  in a ring shape that has a pixel array ring interior  214  that surrounds the emitter module  210 . The ring shape may be any shape such as, for example, ring shapes that are rectangular, circular or elliptical.  
         [0018]     The ring optical system  208  may include optics, such as lens, capable of collimating received optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  212 . The ring optical system  208  may include epoxy or other types of transmissive material and may be a shape capable of properly covering the pixel array  212 . The ring optical system  208  may also be capable of directing emitted optical radiation  216  from the emitter module  210  into a focused emitted optical radiation  218  that may be directed to the navigation surface  204 .  
         [0019]     The ring optical system  208  may be a transmissive layer capable of covering both the emitter module  210  and pixel array  212 , where the transmissive layer may include any transmissive and moldable material capable of collimating the emitted optical radiation  216  into a parallel beam of focused optical radiation  218  directed from the emitter module  210  to the navigation surface  204  and collimating the reflected optical radiation into a collimated of beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  212 . As an example of implementation, the transmissive layer may be an epoxy layer.  
         [0020]     The emitter module  210  may include additional optics (not shown) capable of producing the emitted optical radiation  216  from the emitter module  210  to the ring optical system  208 . The emitter module  210  may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, photo-diode, LED, light bulb, or a semiconductor laser such as an edge-emitting laser or a Vertical Cavity Semiconductor Emitting Laser (“VCSEL”). The pixel array  212  may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, or photo-multipliers. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the optical radiation again may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation.  
         [0021]     In an example of operation, the emitter module  210  may emit the emitted optical radiation  216  at the navigation surface  204  through the ring optical system  208 . The ring optical system  208  may focus the emitted optical radiation  216  into focused emitted optical radiation  218  that is emitted in a direction that is normal (i.e., perpendicular) to the face  220  of the navigation IC  206 .  
         [0022]     The focused emitted optical radiation  218  is then reflected by the navigation surface  204  resulting in reflected optical radiation  222  that is received by the ring optical system  208 . The ring optical system  208  then collimates the received reflected optical radiation  222  into a collimated beam  224  of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  212  which receives the collimated beam  224 . The collimated beam  224  may be tubular in shape.  
         [0023]     In  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a side view of an example of another implementation of an optical navigation system  300  within a non-mechanical navigation device  302  is shown. Similar to  FIG. 2 , the optical navigation system  300  may include an optical navigation IC  306  and a ring optical system  308 . The navigation IC  306  may also include an emitter module  310  and a pixel array  312 . The navigation IC  306  may include an emitter module  310  and a pixel array  312 . The navigation IC  306  may include a substrate that may be a single semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit, a lead-frame, an insert-molded lead-frame, a PCB, flexible circuit, ceramics substrate or MID.  
         [0024]     The emitter module  310  may include a light source (not shown) such as one or more LEDs and the pixel array  312  may include a plurality of photo-detectors (not shown) such a photo-diodes. The pixel array  312  is configured within the navigation IC  306  in a ring shape that has a pixel array ring interior  314  that surrounds the emitter module  310 . The ring shape may be any shape such as, for example, ring shapes that are rectangular, circular or elliptical.  
         [0025]     The ring optical system  308  may include optics, such as lens, capable of collimating received optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  312 . The ring optical system  308  may include epoxy or other types of transmissive material and may be a shape capable of properly covering the pixel array  312 . The ring optical system  308  may also be capable of directing emitted optical radiation  316  from the emitter module  310  into a focused emitted optical radiation  318  that may be directed to the navigation surface  304 .  
         [0026]     Again, the ring optical system  308  may be a transmissive layer capable of covering both the emitter module  310  and pixel array  312 , where the transmissive layer may include any transmissive and moldable material capable of collimating the emitted optical radiation  316  into a parallel beam of focused optical radiation  318  directed from the emitter module  310  to the navigation surface  304  and collimating the reflected optical radiation into a collimated of beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  312 . As an example of implementation, the transmissive layer may be an epoxy layer.  
         [0027]     The emitter module  310  may include additional optics (not shown) capable of producing the emitted optical radiation  316  from the emitter module  310  to the ring optical system  308 . Again, the emitter module  310  may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, photo-diode, LED, light bulb, or a semiconductor laser such as an edge-emitting laser or a VCSEL. Unlike  FIG. 2 , in  FIG. 3 , the emitter module  310  is not located within the navigation IC  302  but is instead located on the IC surface  320  of the navigation IC  302 . The pixel array  312  may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, or photo-multipliers. It is again appreciated that the optical radiation again may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation.  
         [0028]     Similar to  FIG. 2 , in an example of operation, the emitter module  310  may emit the emitted optical radiation  316  at the navigation surface  304  through the ring optical system  308 . The ring optical system  308  may focus the emitted optical radiation  316  into focused emitted optical radiation  318  that is emitted in a direction that is normal to the IC face  320 .  
         [0029]     The focused emitted optical radiation  318  is then reflected by the navigation surface  304  resulting in reflected optical radiation  322  that is received by the ring optical system  308 . The ring optical system  308  then collimates the received reflected optical radiation  322  into a collimated beam  324  of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array  312  which receives the collimated beam  324 . The collimated beam  324  may be tubular in shape.  
         [0030]     In  FIG. 4 , a top view of an example of an implementation of the navigation IC  400  shown in either  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3  is shown. As stated above, the navigation IC  400  may include a pixel array  402  and an emitter module  404 . The pixel array  402  is configured within the navigation IC  400  in a ring shape that has a pixel array ring interior  406  that surrounds the emitter module  404 . The ring shape may be any shape such as, for example, ring shapes that are rectangular, circular or elliptical.  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 5 , a top view of an example of an implementation of a ring optical system  500  shown in either FIGS.  2  or  3  is shown. The ring optical system  500  may include a plurality of rings of optics located on the IC surface (not shown) of the navigation IC (not shown). As an example, ring  502  may be located on top of the emitter module (not shown) and it may include optics capable of collimating the emitted optical radiation from the emitter module into a parallel beam of focused optical radiation. Ring  504  may be located on top of the pixel array (not shown) and it may include optics capable of collimating received optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array (not shown). The ring optical system  500  may include optics, such as lens, capable of collimating the reflected optical radiation into a collimated beam of optical radiation that is passed to the pixel array. Rings  506  and  508  may be transmissive layers or opaque layers that isolate ring  502  from ring  504 .  
         [0032]     It will be understood that the foregoing description of an implementation has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.