Abstract:
An optical mouse employs an optical mouse controller and an optical mouse sensor. In operation, the optical mouse sensor generates an image sensing report signal indicative of a movement of the optical mouse over a surface of an object and communicates the image sensing report signal to the optical mouse controller based on a CPI resolution setting of the optical mouse sensor. To be responsive to varying applications, the optical mouse sensor detects a dynamic movement variable associated with the movement of the optical mouse over the surface of the object and controls a switching of the CPI resolution setting among at least two different CPI resolutions based on a detection of the dynamic movement variable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to an optical mouse sensor employed within an optical mouse. The present invention specifically relates to an optical mouse sensor controlling a dynamic switching of its counts per inch (“CPI”) resolution where the CPI resolution is indicative of how many times per inch of optical mouse movement that the optical mouse sensor sends an image sensing report signal to an optical mouse controller. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Digital entertainment (e.g., online gaming, downloadable movies, music and TV programming) is driving the need for new, higher-performance PC input devices. Mouse navigation is of particular importance as PCs and laptops move into less-traditional environments, such as, for example, kitchens, bedrooms and the local coffee shop. Such locations often require mouse navigation on surfaces such as wood-grain or laminate that can cause today&#39;s optical mice to falter. In addition, applications such as high-speed online gaming require fast responsiveness and high position accuracy, regardless of location. 
   To address this growing demand, a patented LaserStream product line offered by the assignee of the present invention includes three versions of laser navigation sensors and mouse bundles. 
   First, an ADNS-6000 laser navigation sensor/ADNB-600X bundle for high-end corded mice features 800 CPI resolution, 20 inches per second (“IPS”) maximum velocity and 6,400 frames per second (“FPS”) frame rate. 
   Second, an ADNS-6030 laser navigation sensor/ADNB-603X bundle for high-end cordless mice features up to 800 CPI resolution, 20 IPS maximum velocity, and enhanced self-adjusting frame rate, along with low power consumption for battery life of up to six months. 
   Finally, anADNS-6010 laser navigation sensor/ADNB-601X bundle optimized for the gaming environment and other specialized high-performance applications features 2,000 CPI resolution, 45 IPS maximum velocity and 7,080 FPS frame rate. 
   The CPI resolution for all three of the aforementioned laser navigation sensors and mouse bundles are fixed and are therefore more suitable for applications that are compatible with the fixed CPI resolution and less suitable for applications that are incompatible with the fixed CPI resolution. Thus, there is a need to have a dynamic switching CPI resolution responsive to the needs of various applications. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a new and unique dynamic self-switching CPI resolution for an optical mouse sensor. 
   One form of the present invention is an optical mouse comprising an optical mouse sensor and an optical mouse controller. In operation, the optical mouse sensor generates an image sensing report signal indicative of a movement of the optical mouse over a surface of an object and communicates the image sensing report signal to the optical mouse controller based on a CPI resolution setting of the optical mouse sensor, wherein the optical mouse sensor detects a dynamic movement variable associated with the movement of the optical mouse over the surface of the object and controls a switching of the CPI resolution setting among at least two different CPI resolutions based on detection of the dynamic movement variable. 
   More particularly, the optical mouse sensor can include a processor and a memory operable with the processor to execute instructions for detecting the dynamic movement variable and controlling the switching of the CPI resolution setting among the different CPI resolution(s) based on the detection of the dynamic movement variable. 
   A second form of the present invention is method of operating an optical mouse sensor to generate an image sensing report signal indicative of a movement of the optical mouse over a surface of an object and to communicate the image sensing report signal to the optical mouse controller based on a CPI resolution setting of the optical mouse sensor. The method involves the optical mouse sensor detecting a dynamic movement variable associated with the movement of the optical mouse over the surface of the object and controlling a switching of the CPI resolution setting among at least two different CPI resolutions based on detection of the dynamic movement variable. 
   The aforementioned forms and additional forms as wells as objects and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the various embodiments of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereto. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of an optical mouse in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart representative of one embodiment of a CPI resolution setting method in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrates an exemplary table of a low CPI resolution and high CPI resolution correspondence with a dynamic movement variable in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart representative of a first embodiment of the CPI resolution setting method illustrated in  FIG. 2  in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart representative of a second embodiment of a CPI resolution setting method illustrated in  FIG. 2  in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of an optical mouse sensor in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an optical mouse  20  employing an optical mouse controller  30  and an optical mouse sensor  40 . In operation, as optical mouse  20  is moved across a surface of an object  10  as shown for purposes of performing a navigation function, optical mouse sensor  40  senses moving images of the surface of object  10  via an illumination reflection of the surface of object  10  as represented by the upward pointing arrows and communicates a generated image sensing report signal ISRS indicative of the moving images of the surface of object  10  to optical mouse controller  30 . In response to image sensing report signal ISRS, optical mouse controller  30  determines a state of optical mouse sensor  40  for purposes of determining a current position of optical mouse  20  relative to the surface of object  10  and communicates any change in the current position of optical mouse  20  to a computer data interface controller (not shown). 
   A CPI resolution of optical mouse sensor  40  as known in the art is a measurement of how many times optical mouse sensor  40  communicates image sensing report signal ISRS to optical mouse controller  30  on a per specified dimensional length of optical mouse movement basis (e.g., number of image sensing report signal ISRS communications per inch of optical mouse movement). The present invention is premised on optical mouse sensor  40  controlling a setting of its CPI resolution for purposes of operating at a CPI resolution setting that is appropriate for the current application of optical mouse  20 . To this end, during each navigation function of optical mouse  20 , optical mouse sensor  40  implements a dynamic CPI resolution setting method of the present invention as represented by a flowchart  50  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   A stage S 52  of flowchart  50  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  detecting a dynamic movement variable associated the movement of optical mouse sensor  40  over the surface of object  10  for purposes of performing the navigation function. In practice, the dynamic movement variable can be any type of measurable factor, characteristic, or attribute of the movement of optical mouse sensor  40  over the surface of object  10 . 
   In a first exemplary embodiment, the dynamic movement variable is a velocity of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10 . In a second exemplary embodiment, the dynamic movement variable is an acceleration of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of the object. In a third exemplary embodiment, the dynamic movement variable is a user CPI resolution preference of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10 . 
   A stage S 54  of flowchart  50  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  controlling a switching of its CPI resolution setting among two or more different CPI resolutions based on a detection of the dynamic movement variable. In practice, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions to the number of CPI resolutions designed for optical mouse sensor  40  and the number of detectable dynamic movement variables associated with the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10 . 
   In a first exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , a velocity of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  being within a low velocity range (e.g., NEED AN SAMPLE RANGE) corresponds to a fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution) and a velocity of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  being within a high velocity range (e.g., NEED AN SAMPLE RANGE) corresponds to a fixed high CPI resolution (e.g., 800 CPI resolution). 
   In a second exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , an acceleration of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  being within a low acceleration range (e.g., NEED AN SAMPLE RANGE) corresponds to a fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution) and an acceleration of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  being within a high acceleration range (e.g., NEED AN SAMPLE RANGE) corresponds to a fixed high CPI resolution (e.g., 800 CPI resolution). 
   In a third exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , a user fixed low CPI resolution preference of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  corresponds to a low CPI resolution activation (e.g., a pushing of a CPI resolution button or some designated component of optical mouse  20 ) and a user fixed high CPI resolution preference of optical mouse sensor  40  of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  corresponds to a high CPI resolution activation (e.g., a pushing of a CPI resolution button or some designated component of optical mouse  20 ). 
   To further facilitate an understanding of the inventive principles of the present invention, more detailed embodiments of flowchart  50  will now be described herein in connection with a flowchart  60  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and a flowchart  70  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , prior to a movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10 , a stage S 62  of flowchart  60  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  setting its CPI resolution equal to a fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution). Upon a movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  for purposes of performing a navigation function, a stage S 64  of flowchart  60  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  sensing images of the surface of the object  10  to thereby generate and communicate image sensing report signal ISRS to optical mouse controller  30  based on its CPI resolution setting. 
   Stage S 64  continues until the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is completed for purposes of the navigation function. Nonetheless, during the execution of stage S 64 , optical mouse sensor  40  loops through stages S 66 -S 72  to ensure its CPI resolution setting is compatible with the application of optical mouse  20 . 
   Specifically, a stage S 66  of flowchart  60  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  determining one or more image cross-correlation variables based on two or more of the sensed images of the surface of object  10 . In one exemplary embodiment, the image cross-correlation variables include a ΔX variable and a ΔY variable derived from a cross-correlation of two or more sensed images of the surface of object  10  where ΔX variable is indicative of a degree of movement of optical sensor  40  over the surface of the object relative to an X axis of the surface of the object and ΔY variable is indicative of a degree of movement of optical sensor  40  over the surface of the object relative to a Y axis of the surface of the object. 
   A stage S 68  of flowchart  60  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  determining whether the image cross-correlation variable(s) indicate a low movement variable range or a high movement variable range. In practice, this determination can be based on a comparison of each image cross-correlation variable to a threshold representative of a boundary between the low movement variable range and the high movement variable range. For example, the ΔX variable being less than the threshold indicates a low movement variable range and the ΔX variable being equal to or higher than the threshold indicates a high movement variable range. 
   In one exemplary embodiment of stage S 68 , optical mouse sensor  40  determines whether the ΔX variable and the ΔY variable indicate optical mouse  20  is moving over the surface of object  10  with a velocity in the low velocity range of  FIG. 3  or in the high velocity range of  FIG. 3 . If the velocity of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is within the low velocity range, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to a stage S 70  of flowchart  60  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution). Otherwise, if the velocity of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is within the high velocity range, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to a stage S 72  of flowchart  60  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed high CPI resolution (e.g., 800 CPI resolution). 
   In another exemplary embodiment of stage S 68 , optical mouse sensor  40  determines whether the ΔX variable and the ΔY variable indicate optical mouse  20  is moving over the surface of object  10  with a acceleration in the low acceleration range of  FIG. 3  or in the high acceleration range of  FIG. 3 . If the acceleration of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is within the low acceleration range, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to stage S 70  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution). Otherwise, if the acceleration of the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is within the high acceleration range, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to stage S 72  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed high CPI resolution (e.g., 800 CPI resolution). 
   Upon completion of stage S 70  or stage S 72 , then optical mouse sensor  40  returns to stage S 64  to reiterate the dynamic CIP resolution setting loop of stages S 76 -S 82 . Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the CPI resolution setting of optical mouse sensor  40  may not be switched or may be switched one or more times in dependence upon how optical mouse  20  is moved over the surface of object  10  during the performance of the navigation function. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , prior to a movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10 , a stage S 82  of flowchart  80  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  setting its CPI resolution equal to a fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution). Upon a movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  for purposes of performing a navigation function, a stage S 84  of flowchart  80  encompasses optical mouse sensor  40  determining whether a user preferred input is indicating a low CPI resolution preference or a high CPI resolution preference. In practice, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the manner by which optical mouse sensor  40  determines the user preferred input. 
   If optical mouse sensor  40  determines the user preferred input is indicating the low CPI resolution preference, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to a stage S 86  of flowchart  80  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed low CPI resolution (e.g., 400 CPI resolution). Otherwise, if optical mouse sensor  40  determines the user preferred input is indicating the high CPI resolution preference, then optical mouse sensor  40  proceeds to a stage S 88  of flowchart  80  to set or maintain a setting of its CPI resolution equal to the fixed high CPI resolution (e.g., 800 CPI resolution). 
   The loop execution of stages S 84 -S 88  continues until the movement of optical mouse  20  over the surface of object  10  is completed for purposes of the navigation function to ensure its CPI resolution setting is compatible with the application of optical mouse  20 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of optical mouse sensor  40  employing a serial port  41 , an oscillator  42 , an image processor  43 , a voltage regulator/power controller  44  and an illumination controller  45  (LED or laser). Image processor  43  is responsible for implementing a dynamic CPI resolution setting method of the present invention under the inventive principles of the present invention. To this end, image processor  43  can use software and/or firmware to implement a dynamic CPI resolution setting method of the present invention as instructions executable by image processor  43 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate how to apply the inventive principles of the present invention to any type of optical mouse sensor, particularly optical mouse sensors having a more highly structured configuration that the optical mouse sensor illustrated in  FIG. 1 , such as, for example, an optical mouse employing multiple optical mouse sensors in communication with the optical mouse controller and/or an optical mouse having additional fixed CPI resolutions and additional ranges (velocity and/or acceleration) for a dynamic movement variable or variables. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , those having ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate numerous advantages and benefits of the present invention, including, but not limited to, a CPI resolution setting of an optical mouse sensor that is dynamically controlled by the optical mouse sensor to suit any particular application. 
   While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.