Patent Abstract:
A dual-layer optical ball for use in a cursor control pointing device. The ball is illuminated by a light source that emits light signals at, at least, a first wavelength, the ball having an inner layer surface that is capable of diffusing a light signal and an outer layer having a substantially smooth surface that surrounds the inner layer. The outer layer is substantially transparent to light at the first frequency. The inner layer diffuses the light signals at different intensities depending upon an the area of the inner surface that is illuminated.

Full Description:
This application is divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/221,637 filed Dec. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,587, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/825,435 filed Mar. 28, 1997 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,482, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/477,448 filed Jun. 7, 1995, now abandoned, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/424,125 filed on Apr. 19, 1995, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,356, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/199,982 filed on Feb. 18, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/956,907 filed on Oct. 5, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,993. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to dual layer optical balls for use with pointing devices for cursors on displays for personal computers, workstations and other computing devices having cursor control devices, and more particularly relates to optical devices and methods for translating rotation of a patterned ball over optical elements or movement of an optical device over a patterned surface into digital signals representative of such movement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pointing devices, such as mice and trackballs are well known peripherals for personal computers and workstations. Such pointing devices allow rapid relocation of the cursor on a display screen, and are useful in many text, database and graphical programs. Perhaps the most common form of pointing device is the electronic mouse; the second most common may well be the trackball. 
     With a mouse, the user controls the cursor by moving the mouse over a reference surface; the cursor moves a direction and distance proportional to the movement of the mouse. Although some electronic mice use reflectance of light over a reference pad, and others use a mechanical approach, most prior art mice use a ball which is on the underside of the mouse and rolls over the reference surface (such as a desktop) when the mouse is moved. In such a prior art device, the ball contacts a pair of shaft encoders and the rotation of the ball rotates the shaft encoders, which historically includes an encoding wheel having a plurality of slits therein. A light source, often an LED, is positioned on one side of the encoding wheel, while a photosensor, such as a phototransistor, is positioned substantially opposite the light source. Rotation of the encoding wheel therebetween causes a series of light pulses to be received by the photosensor, by which the rotational movement of the ball can be converted to a digital representation useable to move the cursor. 
     The optomechanical operation of a trackball is similar, although many structural differences exist. In a trackball, the device remains stationary while the user rotates the ball with the thumb, fingers or palm of the hand; one ergonomic trackball is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5.122,654, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As with the mouse. the ball in a conventional trackball typically engages a pair of shaft encoders having encoding wheels thereon. Associated with the encoding wheels are tight sources and photosensors, which generate pulses when the movement of the ball causes rotation of the shaft encoders. One prior art trackball using this approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,528. 
     Although such a prior art approach has worked well for some time, with high quality mice and trackballs providing years of trouble-free use, the mechanical elements of such pointing devices necessarily limit the useful life of the device. 
     Optical mice which illuminate a reference pad, while having few or no mechanical parts, have historically been limited due to the need for the reference pad to have a regular pattern, as well as many other limitations. 
     Additionally, in conventional electronic mice, a quadrature signal representative of the movement of the mouse is generated by the use of two pairs of LED&#39;s and photodetectors. However, the quality of the quadrature signal has often varied with the matching of the sensitivity of the photosensor to the light output of the LED. In many instances, this has required the expensive process of matching LED&#39;s and photodetectors prior to assembly. In addition, varying light outputs from the LED can create poor focus of light onto the sensor, and extreme sensitivity of photosensor output to the distance between the LED, the encoding wheel, and the photosensor. 
     There has therefore been a need for a photosensor which does not require matching to a particular LED or batch of LED&#39;s, while at the same time providing good response over varying LED-to-sensor distances. 
     In addition, many prior art mice involve the use of a mask in combination with an encoder wheel to properly distinguish rotation of the encoder wheel. Because such masks and encoder wheels are typically constructed of injection molded plastic, tolerances cannot be controlled to the precision of most semiconductor devices. This has led, effectively, to a mechanical upper limit imposed on the accuracy of the conventional optomechanical mouse, despite the fact that the forward path of software using such mice calls for the availability of ever-increasing resolution. There has therefore been a need for a cursor control device for which accuracy is not limited by the historical tolerances of injection molding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention substantially overcomes the foregoing limitations of the prior art by providing an optical sensing system which eliminates entirely the use of shaft encoders, the encoding wheels associated with shaft encoders, masks or other mechanical elements normally associated with optomechanical pointing devices. The present invention can be implemented with either a mouse or a trackball, although the exemplary embodiments described hereinafter will discuss primarily trackball implementations. In addition, while most embodiments require a patterned ball, some embodiments of the present invention do not require any ball at all. 
     For those embodiments which use a ball, the present invention employs a ball having a pattern of spots (which are typically but not necessarily irregular in location and may be randomly sized within a suitable range) in a color which contrasts with the background color, such as black spots on an otherwise white ball. One or more light sources, typically LED&#39;s, illuminate a portion of the ball and a portion of that light illuminates a sensor array comprising a plurality of individual sensor elements to create an image of a portion of the ball. An optical element such as a lens or diffractive optical element may be provided to focus the image of the ball on the array. The signals generated by the array are then acted upon by logic and analog circuits, for example employing a biologically inspired VLSI circuit, such that the movement of the ball is converted into X and Y components for movement of the cursor on the video display. Except for the mechanical aspects of the ball itself (and in some instances the bearings on which the ball is supported), the electronic trackball of the present invention is entirely optical: when the ball is included, the trackball of the present invention may reasonably be thought of as an optomechanical pointing device although it has no mechanical moving parts other than the ball. It will be apparent that the techniques used herein may readily be adapted to other types of pointing devices, particularly electronic mice. 
     It is an object of the present invention to utilize a dual-layer optical ball for use in a cursor control pointing device. The ball is illuminated by a light source that emits light signals at, at least, a first wavelength, the ball having an inner layer surface that is capable of diffusing a light signal and an outer layer having a substantially smooth surface that surrounds the inner layer. The outer layer is substantially transparent to light at the first frequency. The inner layer diffuses the light signals at different intensities depending upon an the area of the inner surface that is illuminated. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device in which light illuminating a surface is directed to a sensor through a mirror and lens combination. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic pointing device employing a random pattern of randomly sized and shaped spots on a ball in combination with an optical array to provide signals for generating cursor control signals. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electronic pointing device using a light source in combination with an optical element and a photosensitive array to provide signals for generating cursor control signals. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an optical pointing device which does not require a ball. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mouse not requiring any special pattern or tablet. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device which employs frustrated total internal reflection to detect movement. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical pointing device which uses the human fingerprint as a pattern for detecting movement of the pointing device. 
     These and other objects of the present invention may be better appreciated from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in combination with the accompanying Figures. 
    
    
     THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 shows in exploded view an electronic trackball according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A shows a generalized cross-sectional side view of the ball cage and ball of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B shows a more detailed cross-sectional side view of the ball cage and ball of the present invention, including light paths. 
     FIG. 3 shows in schematic block diagram form the circuitry of a single pixel according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows an array of four of the block diagrams of FIG. 3, thus snowing the interrelationship between the pixels. 
     FIG. 5A shows in schematic block diagram form the circuitry used for cursor control in the present invention. 
     FIG. 5B shows in schematic block diagram form the signal conditioning circuitry of FIG.  5 A. 
     FIGS. 6A-6B show in flow diagram form the operation of the firmware which controls the logic of FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     FIG. 7A shows in exploded perspective view a second embodiment of a trackball in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 7B shows in three-quarter perspective view the assembled elements of FIG.  7 A. 
     FIG. 8A shows in side elevational view the assembly of FIGS. 7A-B. 
     FIG. 8B shows in cross-sectional side view the assembled components shown in FIGS. 7A-B. 
     FIGS. 9A-9D show in side elevational, bottom plan, top plan and cross-sectional side view the ball cage shown generally in FIGS. 7A-8B. 
     FIGS. 10A-10D show in side elevational, top plan, bottom plan and cross-sectional side view the upper opto housing shown generally in FIGS. 7A-8B. 
     FIGS. 11A-11D show in side elevational, top plan, bottom plan and cross-sectional side view the lower opto housing shown generally in FIGS. 7A-8B. 
     FIG. 12A shows in simplified cross-sectional side view the operation of the optics of the invention. 
     FIG. 12B shows in simplified cross-sectional side view an arrangement of a lateral sensor according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12C shows in simplified cross-sectional side view the operation of the optics according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 shows in block diagram form the components of the lateral sensor of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 shows in schematic block diagram form the interface logic included within the sensor of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 shows in state diagram form the operation of the state machine included within the interface logic of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 illustrates the arrangement of pixels within the pixel matrix of the sensor of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 17A illustrates in schematic form the logic associated with each type P pixel in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 17B depicts two images of the ball on the pixel matrix at times t and t−1. 
     FIG. 18 shows in schematic diagram form the operation of the bidirectional pad of FIG.  13 . 
     FIGS. 19A and 19B show timing diagrams for the embodiment of FIG. during various phases of operation. 
     FIG. 20A shows in exploded perspective view a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 20B shows in top plan view the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 20C shows in front elevational view the third embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 20D shows in back elevational view the third embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 20E shows the third embodiment in side elevational view. 
     FIG. 21A shows in three-quarter perspective view the ball cage of the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 21B shows in cross-sectional side view the ball cage and optical elements of the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 21C shows the ball cage in rear elevational view. 
     FIG. 21D shows a portion of the ball cage in relation to a ball. 
     FIG. 22 shows in cross-sectional side view a fourth embodiment of the invention not requiring a ball. 
     FIGS. 23A-B show in exploded perspective view the optical components of a fifth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23A is a wire frame view, with no hidden lines, to show additional structural features, while FIG. 23B is a more conventional perspective view. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, an electronic pointing device, and in particular an electronic trackball  10 , is shown in exploded perspective view. The trackball  10  includes an upper housing  20 , a printed circuit board  30  close to which a ball cage  40  is juxtaposed, a lower housing  50 , a ball  60 , and a plurality of buttons  70  located on the upper housing  20  which actuate associated switches  80 . The switches  80  are normally located on the circuit board  30 . The ball cage  40  typically is mounted on the PCB  30 , although in some instances it can be mounted on a housing member. 
     The printed circuit board  30  includes circuitry for operating on the signals provided by a sensor and associated logic (see FIGS.  3  and  4 ). Thus, movement of the ball in the trackball is in turn converted into digital signals which control the cursor on the screen of an associated personal computer, terminal or workstation. In serial port pointing devices, the printed circuit board will typically include a microprocessor and related driver circuitry for sending and receiving standard serial communications, such as RS232 signals. Alternatively, the signals provided by the mouse will be compatible with PS/2 ports. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2A, a ball cage  40  (shown in cross-section) and a ball  60  according to the present invention are shown. As will be immediately appreciated by those skilled in the art, the combination of ball  60  and ball cage  40  are markedly different from the prior art and form a key aspect of the present invention. In particular, the ball  60  can be seen to have a plurality of randomly shaped markings thereon in a color which contrasts with the background, such that the overall effect is a randomly speckled ball. A typical ball may, for example, have black spots on an otherwise white ball, although many other color combinations would be acceptable. In some embodiments, the ball may be illuminated by infrared or other non-visible light, in which case the speckles may be implemented in a manner which is visible to the associated light source but opaque to visible light. One example of such an arrangement is a coating on the ball which is opaque, for example black, in the visible spectrum, but transparent to infrared light, with appropriate speckles beneath the coating. 
     The randomly shaped markings or spots are randomly or irregularly arranged on the ball, although the markings are within a predetermined suitable range. Thus, the markings for this embodiment typically will range in size from 0.5 mm 2  to 0.7 mm 2 , with a density of about one spot per square millimeter. In an exemplary embodiment, the ball may be on the order of 10 mm in diameter, although the diameter could range from 5 mm or smaller to larger than 50 mm. In addition, and as can be better appreciated from FIG. 2B which shows a more detailed cross-sectional view of the ball and ball cage taken along the centerlines thereof, the ball cage  40  includes at least one (FIG.  2 A), and in some cases two or more (FIG.  2 B), light sources  200  such as an LED, which produces light that impinges on the ball  60 . The LED or other light source may include an integrally formed lens. The light from the light sources  200  is preferably reflected off the inside surface  205  of the outer wall  210  of the ball cage  40 , and is partially blocked by an interior wall  215  from striking directly the ball  60 . The inside surface  205  may be, for example, the inside surface of a sphere. In this manner the light from the light sources  200  is distributed relatively uniformly across a predetermined portion of the ball, while at the same time the light is caused to strike the ball obliquely, providing illumination of the ball and allowing light to light diffusely a sensor. 
     The ball is maintained in a rotatable position by a plurality of supports  150 , which may for example be rollers of a conventional type, or may be jeweled bearing surfaces of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/820,500, entitled Bearing Support for a Trackball, filed Jan. 14, 1992 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, incorporated herein by reference. Although only one such roller is shown in FIG. 2B because of the view shown, a plurality, typically three, such rollers are provided to ensure uniform support for the ball  60 . A removable cover may be provided in some embodiments to permit readily insertion and removal of the ball  60 ; while such a removable cover is at present believed preferable, to permit cleaning of the ball and the inside of the pointing device, in at least some embodiments such a removable cover is unnecessary. 
     A photodetector array  220  is located centrally between the light sources  200  in a chamber  222  formed within a housing  224 . A portion of the light which strikes the ball  60  is diffusely reflected into the array  220  through an optical element  225 . The result is that an image of at least a portion of the illuminated surface of the ball is formed on the array  220 . In an important distinction from prior art optomechanical mice, the ball cage includes no shaft encoders, nor does it include the matched light source and photodetector typical of prior optomechanical mice. The optical element  225  is typically fixed in location between the housing  224  and an aperture housing  228  of which the interior wall  215  forms the outside surface. An aperture  229  is provided in the aperture housing  228  to permit the diffuse light reflected off the ball  60  to reach the optical element  225 , and then the photosensitive array  220 . 
     The photodetector array  220  will typically range in overall size from 1×1 mm to 7×7 mm, with each detector segment, or pixel,  220 A- 220   n  having dimensions in the range of 20×20 μm to 300×300 μm or more, where the exact dimensions are determined by the size of the overall array and the size of the individual detector. In the exemplary embodiments discussed herein, each pixel is on the order of 300×300 μm. As will be discussed hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, in the preferred embodiments of the invention described herein, each pixel includes a photodetector element and associated circuitry for conditioning the output of the photodetector element into a signal useable external to the array. The diameter of the ball (or other pattern) area whose image is projected on the sensor and used for detection corresponds to the detector field diameter, and thus determines the maximum field angle to be covered by the optics. In an exemplary embodiment, a typical ball area diameter viewable for detection may be on the order of 2.8 mm, which represents a field of 6.2 mm 2 , and the array  220  may comprise a matrix of 8×8 detectors  220 A- n , although other embodiments described hereinafter may use a matrix of 11×11 detectors. Although a square array of detectors has been implemented (substantially as shown in FIG.  5 A), in at least some embodiments it may be preferable to arrange the individual detectors in a circle or hexagon. Depending upon the application, the detectors may be arranged across the area of the element, or may be positioned around the circumference, such as the circumference of a circle, where the contrast and resolution are more constant and thus give the best performance at the lowest cost, in one preferred embodiment, a square matrix is used but the corner elements are unused, to approximate a circle. In general, the objective is to match the area of the sensor with active pixels to the field of view obtained through the optics. In the exemplary embodiments discussed herein, this detector field typically approximates a circle, and in a typical embodiment will have a detector field diameter on the order of 3.25 mm. 
     At present, it appears that the size of an acceptable spot on the ball is relatively independent of the diameter of the ball. However, it has been found that the minimum size of a spot on the ball should be large enough that, when the image of the ball is focused on the sensor, the image of one spot covers at least one photodetector at all times and in all directions. It is preferred that, as a minimum, the size of the image of a single dot or speckle on the sensor should cover the center to center distance between two adjacent pixels on the sensor. In general, however, the preferred typical dot size has been selected so that the surface covered by the image of the dot covers about five pixels. As a maximum dot size, the image may cover substantially all of the sensor, although such an image size will cause degraded performance, as discussed below. Dot density may vary between 0.8 percent and 99.2 percent, but it is generally preferred that dot density be between twenty and seventy percent, with a typically preferred density on the order of forty percent. In a substantially ideal case, with a projected image size covering 8.3 mm 2  on the sensor, the total or sum of the black or low intensity areas comprises 3.2 mm 2 , while the total or sum of the white or higher intensity areas comprises 5.1 mm 2 . A contrast ratio of at least 2.5 between low intensity and high intensity areas of the image on the sensor is generally preferred. 
     Use of a dot size within the appropriate range permits motion detection of an image, (for example grayscale, binary or other format) to be based on tracking of the differences in spatial intensity (or, more simply, “edges”) of the spots. The maximum dimension of the spot is related to the minimum desired output precision of the system; as will be better appreciated hereinafter, the resolution of the system depends upon the number of edges that move divided by the total number of edges viewable. In an exemplary embodiment described hereinafter, for an output resolution greater than 15 dots/mm, it is useful to have an image with at least sixteen edges in each of the X and Y directions. If the number of edges is too small, movement of the cursor will appear “jumpy” in response to movement of the ball. For a four bit A/D converter plus sign, sixteen edges are used to reach unit increments. 
     In addition, it is important to maximize the amount of diffuse light energy reflected off the ball  60  and reaching the detector array  220 , and in particular each particular detector element  220 A- n . Although a wide range of magnifications is workable, a magnification of −1 is preferable to minimize the effects of mechanical tolerances. In addition, because of the small size, expense, and required modulation transfer, conventional lenses are unsatisfactory in at least some of the presently preferred embodiments. Instead, for those embodiments where conventional lenses are unsatisfactory, diffractive optical elements (DOE&#39;s) are preferable. However, in some embodiments, as described hereinafter, classical lenses may be used although some reduction in resolution may be necessary. Even for embodiments which use classical lenses, a resolution on the order of one line per millimeter is possible. 
     In particular, in at least some embodiments DOE&#39;s can provide the required light transfer while at the same time being fabricated by means of relatively conventional lithographic and etching methods known from microelectronics fabrication which fit into the normal manufacturing processes for fabricating the detector array itself, thus keeping additional costs to a minimum. 
     Additionally, while both spherical and a spherical lenses may be used in appropriate embodiments, a spherical functionality can be readily provided in a DOE at virtually no additional expense, and provides desirable light transfer capabilities although it does involve a more complicated design effort. In addition, different optical functions may be included in the same DOE, so that a portion of the DOE substrate can be fabricated with a first microstructure which directs the illumination cone from a light source at the appropriate incidence angle onto the ball surface, and a second microstructure which acts as an aspheric lens for pattern imaging, so that the image of the ball illuminated by the first microstructure is properly focused on the array  220  by the second microstructure. Although such multiple DOE structures are attractive for at least some embodiments of the present invention, in the generally preferred arrangement a DOE is used only for imaging the illuminated area of the speckled ball  60  onto the array  220 . 
     In such an exemplary embodiment, the focal length of the DOE is on the order of 2.4 mm where the total ball-to-detector array distance is on the order of 10 mm. The aperture diameter is on the order of 1-1.5 mm, or a numerical aperture (NA) on the order of 0.1. In addition, because the magnification is −1, the DOE is located midway between the ball  60  and the detector array  220 . 
     As with other optomechanical mice, the motion to be detected corresponds either to two translations (x,y), or one translation and one rotation about the center of the image. Additionally, for power consumption reasons, the LED&#39;s are pulsed in the manner described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/717,187, filed Jun. 18, 1991, and entitled Low Power Optoelectronic Device and Method, meaning that the photodetectors  220 A-N can only detect a series of “snapshots” of the ball. Finally, the output of the detector array  220  preferably is compatible with a microprocessor input so that the signal can be readily converted to control of a cursor. For example, the output could conform to the type of output provided by designs employing optical encoders, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,528, and would result in a two-bit quadrature code of about 15 impulsions per millimeter of ball displacement. 
     For the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, circuitry for operating on the output signals received from the detector array  220  can be better understood by reference to FIG. 3, although FIG. 3 shows photodetector and logic comprising only a single pixel. Similar logic exists for each pixel  200 A- n  in the detector array (a four pixel array is shown in FIG.  4 A), with the end result being a collective computation for the array as a whole. In an exemplary embodiment, the detector array  220  and the associated logic arrays of the type shown in FIG. 3 are all implemented on a single die, and in particular the individual detector and associated circuit elements formed on the same pixel. 
     As a general explanation of the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 3 and 4, the basic function of the algorithm is the correlation of edges and temporal intensity changes (“tics”). Referring particularly to FIG. 3, a photodetector  220 A such as a reverse biased photodiode generates a current proportional to the intensity of the light reflected off the ball onto the detector  220 A. The current is compared with a threshold by a threshold circuit  300 , to decide whether the pixel is white or black. The threshold can be adjusted differently for different sensor zones, such as to compensate for uneven lighting; such adjustment can be made automatically or otherwise, depending on application. Alternatively, a differential circuit, based on the signals from neighboring cells, can be used to reduce sensitivity to variations in lighting intensity, ball speckle density, and so on. 
     While a photodiode has been used in the exemplary embodiment of the photodetector  220 A, it is also possible to use a phototransistor in a number of embodiments. Phototransistors offer the advantage of high current gain, and thus give a high current output for a given level of illumination. However, in some embodiments photoaiodes continue to be preferred because at least some phototransistors have degraded current gain and device matching characteristics at low illumination, while onotodiodes at present offer slightly more predictable performance, and thus greater precision. 
     The output of the threshold circuit  300  is then supplied to a first memory  305 , which stores the state of the threshold circuit and allows the LED to be switched off without losing the illumination value of the Image. The first memory  305 , which may be either a flip-flop or a latch, thus may be thought of as a one-bit sample and hold circuit. More particularly, on the appropriate phase of the clock signal for example when the clock signal is high, the output of the threshold circuit  300  is copied into the memory, and that value is frozen into memory when the clock signal goes low. A second memory  310 , also typically a flip-flop or latch, stores the old state of the memory  305  in a similar manner, and thus the Output of the second memory  310  is equal to the output of the first memory  305  at the end of the previous clock cycle. The clock cycle is, in an exemplary embodiment, synchronized with the LED pulse, with the active edge being at the end of the light pulse. The old state of the memory is supplied to the pixels below and on the left through a “CURRENT STATE” bus  306 . 
     The temporal intensity change (“tic”) of a pixel can thus be determined by comparing the states of the first and second memories  305  and  310 , respectively. This comparison is performed by comparator logic  315 . In addition, the output of the first memory  305  is provided to two additional comparators  320  and  325  to detect edges on the top and at the right, respectively. The comparator  320  also receives information on a line  321  about the current state of the pixel above in the array. The comparator  325  receives information from the pixel on the right through a line  326 , or “EDGE ON RIGHT” bus, and supplies information to the pixel on the right through a line  327 . The comparators  315 ,  320  and  325  may each be implemented as Exclusive-Or circuits for simplicity. 
     Edges at the left and bottom are communicated to this pixel by the pixels at the left and on the bottom, respectively, as can be better appreciated from the portion of the array shown in FIG.  4 A. More specifically, as with reference to FIG. 3, the corresponding pixel circuits will inject a current on an associated wire if a tic and a corresponding edge is detected with the result being that edges at the left and bottom are deducted from the values of the corresponding neighboring pixels. Similarly, the detection of a horizontal or vertical edge is signaled by injecting a current on the corresponding wire. Thus, left correlator logic circuit  330  receives information on a line  335  from what may be thought of as a “MOVE LEFT” bus, and also receives information from the adjacent pixel on a line  336 , which may be thought of as an “EDGE ON LEFT” bus. Down correlator logic  340  receives information on a line  345  from a “MOVE DOWN” bus, and also from a line  341 , supplied from the pixel below as an “EDGE ON BOTTOM” bus. In contrast, up correlator logic  350  receives one input from the circuit  330  and a second input on a line  351 , or “EDGE ON TOP” bus, and provides a signal on a line  355 , or a “MOVE UP” bus; right correlator logic  360  provides a signal on a “MOVE RIGHT” bus  365 . The correlator circuits may be thought of simply as AND gates. 
     In addition, a pair of switched current sources.  370  and  375 , provide a calibrated current injection onto respective busses  380  and  385 , when edges are detected: the current source  370  receives its sole input from the EDGE ON TOP bus  351 . Thus, when a horizontal edge is detected moving vertically, the current source  370  provides a calibrated current injection on line  380 ; similarly, when a vertical edge is detected moving horizontally, the current source  375  provides a calibrated current injection on line  385 . The lines  321 ,  326 ,  336  and  341  are all tied to false logic levels at the edges of the array. Calibration is not required in all embodiments. 
     Referring again to FIG. 4A, the implementation of a four pixel array can be better appreciated, and in particular the manner in which the correlator circuits  330 ,  340 ,  350  and  360  tie into adjacent pixel logic can be better understood. Similarly, the manner in which the vertical and horizontal edge detectors  370  and  375  cooperate with adjacent pixels can be better appreciated. In this first exemplary embodiment, an  8 x 8  matrix of pixels and associated logic has been found suitable, although many other array sizes will be acceptable in particular applications, and an 11×11 matrix is typically used in connection with the embodiments discussed hereinafter. In addition, the 8×8 array is, in an exemplary embodiment, comprised of four 4×4 quadrants, although it is not necessary to decompose the array into quadrants in other embodiments. Arrangement of the array into quadrants is helpful to detect rotation of the ball, although translation may be readily detected without such decomposition. Each quadrant is provided with its own outputs for the four directions of displacement, to permit calculation of displacement to be performed. In other embodiments, It will be appreciated that, basically, six bus lines are provided, with the output of each pixel tied to each bus. Depending on the characteristics of the image in the pixel and its neighbors, one to all six busses may be driven. In essence, the function of the circuits of FIGS. 3 and 4 is that each pixel  200 A- n  can either drive a preset amount of current onto the associated bus (“ON”), or do nothing. By the use of very precise current drivers, it is then possible to sum the respective currents on each of the busses and determine the number of pixels that are on the bus. The six busses give six numbers, and the six numbers are combined to compute X and Y, or horizontal and vertical, displacements. In a presently preferred embodiment, X and Y displacements can be calculated as: 
     
       
         ΔX=(ΣMoveRight−ΣMoveLeft)/(ΣEdge x ) 
       
     
     while 
     
       
         ΔY=(ΣMoveUp−ΣMoveDown)/(ΣEdge y ). 
       
     
     The algorithm may be summarized as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Edge x  = 
                 Light (sample cell) &gt; c × Light (cell left) or 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 c × Light (sample cell) &lt; Light (cell left) 
               
               
                 Edge y  = 
                 Light (sample cell) &gt; c × Light (cell top) or 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 c × Light (sample cell) &lt; Light (cell top) 
               
               
                 Color = 
                 Light (sample cell) &gt; c × Light (cell left) or 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 Light (sample cell) &gt; c × Light (cell top) 
               
               
                 MoveRight = 
                 Edge x(t)  (sample cell) and 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 Edge x(t-1)  (cell left) and 
               
               
                   
                 Color t-1  (cell left) = Color t  (sample cell) 
               
               
                 MoveLeft = 
                 Edge x(t)  (sample cell) and 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 Edge x(t-1)  (cell right) and 
               
               
                   
                 Color t-1  (cell right) = Color t  (sample cell) 
               
               
                 MoveUp = 
                 Edge x(t)  (sample cell) and 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 Edge x(t-1)  (cell bottom) and 
               
               
                   
                 Color t-1  (cell bottom) = Color t  (sample cell) 
               
               
                 MoveDown = 
                 Edge x(t)  (sample cell) and 
                 (Boolean) 
               
               
                   
                 Edge x(t-1)  (cell top) and 
               
               
                   
                 Color t-1  (cell top) = Color t  (sample cell) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The value of c In the foregoing is a constant chosen to avoid noise and mismatch problems between two adjacent pixels, and in the embodiment described has been chosen to be a value of 2. Also, as previously discussed generally, it will be apparent from the foregoing algorithm that an increase in the number of edges present in the image results in an increase in the precision of the displacement measurement. It will also be apparent that the measured displacement is a fraction of the distance between two pixels. Some calculations may be done digitally or by other techniques. 
     The effect of a move on the pixels can be graphically appreciated from FIG. 17B, in which a pixel array includes an image comprising some dark pixels D, some light pixels L, and some pixels E which are undergoing an intensity change indicative of the presence of an edge. Thus, if a first oval area F is defined as the image of the ball at a time (t−1), and a second oval area S is defined as the image of the ball at a time (t), the direction of motion can be determined as shown by the arrow. 
     The difference between the right and left moves (the dividend in the above fractions) is easily implemented with a differential current amplifier having, in at least some embodiments, inverting and non-inverting inputs, as will be better appreciated in connection with FIG. 5B, discussed below. 
     Referring next to FIG. 5A, a generalized schematic block diagram is shown in which the array  220  is connected to the remaining circuitry necessary for operation as a trackball. The array  220  is connected through signal conditioning logic  505 A-B to A/D converters  510  and  520  to a microprocessor  530 . The A/D converter  510  supplies lines X0, X1 and X2, as well as the sign of the X movement, to the microprocessor on lines  540 ; likewise. A/D converter  520  supplies lines Y0, Y1 and Y2, as well as the sign of the Y movement, to the microprocessor on lines  550 . In some embodiments a four-bit A/D converter plus sign may be preferred, in which case an extension of the present circuit to four bits is believed within the normal skill in the art. Switches  80  supply additional control inputs to the microprocessor  530 . The microprocessor provides a clock signal on line  535  to the array and associated circuits, indicated generally at  545 , which may for example be implemented on a single sensor integrated circuit. The microprocessor  530  then communicates bidirectionally with line interface logic  560 , and the output of the line interface logic  560  provides cursor control signals in conventional form to a host system, not shown, over an output bus  570 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in the embodiment detailed herein, the microprocessor  530  is used primarily for establishing the protocol for communications with the host, although it does also control LED pulsing, sleep mode and services interrupts. 
     With reference next to FIG. 5B, the signal conditioning circuits  505 A-B shown in FIG. 5 can be better understood. For convenience, only the X (horizontal move) signal conditioning circuit is shown in detail; the corresponding Y (vertical move) circuit is functionally identical. As previously noted, the cumulative current signals from the various pixels are summed on their respective busses. These sums of such currents from the “move left” and “move right” busses are subtracted in summing circuit  570 , followed by determination of the absolute value in an absolute value circuit  572 , after which the absolute value is provided to the A/D converter  510 . In addition, sign of the move is determined by providing the output of the summing circuit  570  to a comparator  574 . Finally, the sum of the edge currents is compared through a series of comparators  576 , the outputs of which are fed to combinational logic  578 , and thence provided as X0-X2 outputs. It should also be noted that the A/D conversion of circuits  510  and  520  can be readily implemented using a flash A/D converter. Division can be similarly implemented with a flash A/D converter by using a reference voltage proportional to the bus current for the horizontal (or vertical) edges. Use of current sources for such circuitry provides desirable simplicity and compactness. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the operating program which controls the microprocessor  530  can be better appreciated. Referring first to FIG. 6A, the operation of the system of FIGS. 1-5 begins at step  600  by resetting and initializing the logic, and enabling interrupts. A check is made at step  610  to determine whether the sleep mode has been enabled. 
     If sleep mode is enabled, reflecting no recent movement of the bail of the trackball, the logic of FIGS. 3-5 sleeps at step  620  until the timeout or the occurrence of bus activity, whichever occurs first. The occurrence of sleep modes is discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/672,090, filed Mar. 19, 1991 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein by reference. If sleep mode is not enabled, or if a timeout or bus activity has occurred, the switches  80  on the trackball are read at step  630 . After the switches are read, a check is made at step  640  to see whether the ball is moving. If not, sleep mode is enabled at step  650 . 
     If the ball is moving, the total displacement is computed at step  660 . Following computation of the displacement, the data is provided as an output to the host system at step  670 , and the process loops back to step  610 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 6B, the interrupt service routine of the present invention can be better understood. The interrupt service routine is accessed at step  675  whenever a timer function from the microprocessor generates an interrupt, although other methods of generating an interrupt at regular intervals are also acceptable in at least some embodiments. The system responds by acknowledging the interrupt at step  680 , followed at step  685  by pulsing the LEDs and sampling the sensor outputs for X and Y. At step  690  the time before a next sample is to be taken is calculated. The amount of time can vary, depending upon whether the displacement of the ball since the last sample is large or small; for example, a sampling rate of once per millisecond is typical during normal movement, with less frequent sampling when the ball is stopped. If the displacement is small, the time between successive samples is increased; if the displacement is large, the time between samples is decreased. In a presently preferred implementation, a “small” displacement represents a movement on the order of {fraction (1/400)} th  of an inch or less; a “large” displacement will range between {fraction (5/800)} th  and {fraction (7/800)} th  of an inch. After computing the time until the next sample, the system returns from the interrupt at step  695 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 7A-78 and  8 A- 8 B, an alternative embodiment of the present invention within a trackball is shown in exploded perspective view and indicated generally at  10 . FIG. 7B is an assembled view of the exploded perspective view of FIG. 7A, while FIG. 8A is a side elevational view of the assembled device. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional side view taken along line AA—AA in FIG.  8 A. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present embodiment comprises essentially four main elements: a ball with a detectable pattern on its surface; one or more light sources such as LEDs to illuminate the ball; a sensor for detecting an image of at least the portion of the ball illuminated by the light sources; and optics to allow the image to be focused on the sensor. In addition, a mechanical framework for supporting the ball, the light sources, the optics and the sensor must be provided. Each of these components will be described in turn, beginning with the mechanical framework. 
     An upper housing  700  and lower housing  705  are shown in breakaway view, and in at least some embodiments (such as portable or handheld computers or similar devices) will be incorporated into, for example, a keyboard. A ball  710 , of the Type described hereinabove, is maintained within a ballcage  715  by means of a retaining ring  720  which locks into the upper housing  700 . The ball is typically on the order of five to fifty millimeters in diameter, although larger or smaller sizes are acceptable in various applications; in the exemplary embodiment described herein, a ball diameter on the order of 19 millimeters is typical. Situated below the ballcage  715  is an opto housing cover  725 , into which is fitted an LED  730  through an angled bore better appreciated from FIGS. 10A-10D. In the exemplary embodiment described here, the LED may be, for example, in the 940 nm range. The opto housing cover  725  also provides a mount for a sensor  735  and a window  740 , as well as a lens  745 . The opto housing cover  7 then mates to a opto housing  750  and is fastened in position by means of an opto clip  755 . A second LED  730  is inserted into the opto housing  750  through a second angled bore, better appreciated from FIGS. 11A-11B. The opto clip  755  is retained in position by being fitted under a detent  760  formed on the opto housing  750  (best seen in FIG.  8 B). The subassembly  765  formed by the opto housing cover  725  and opto housing  750  and related components is positioned beneath the ball cage  715 . 
     Sandwiched between the ball cage  715  and subassembly  765  is a PC board  775 , with the ball  710  viewable by the subassembly  765  through an orifice  770  in a PC board  775 . The ball cage  715  is affixed to the PC board  775  by screws  780  or other suitable means, and the subassembly  765  is fastened to the PC board  775  and the ball cage  715  by means of screws  780  which extend through the opto housing  750  and PC board  775  into the ball cage  715 . The PC board  775  also includes one or more buttons or switches  785 . A connector  790  connects the PC board  775  to a host system (not shown), such as a notebook or other computer, in a conventional manner such as through a serial or PS/2 protocol. 
     Referring next to FIG. 9A-9D, the ball cage  715  is shown in greater detail. In particular, FIG. 9A shows the ball cage  715  in side elevational view, while FIG. 9B shows it in bottom plan view. FIG. 9C shows the ball cage in top plan view, while FIG. 9D shows the ball cage in cross-sectional side view taken along line B—B in FIG.  9 C. The ball cage  715  includes an upper annulus  860  with rotary slots  865  for locking in the retaining ring  720 . Below the upper annulus  860  the interior of the bail cage forms a bowl  870 . Excavated from the bowl are three slots  875  in which bearings  880  are placed for supporting the ball  710 . The bearings  880  are of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/820,500, entitled Bearing Support for a Trackball, filed Jan. 14, 1992, mentioned previously. The slots are positioned substantially with radial symmetry within the bowl  870 . In the bottom of the bowl  870  is an orifice  885  through which the ball may be viewed by the optical portion, discussed generally above and also discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Mounting pads  990  each include a bore  995  for receiving the screws  780  (FIG.  7 A), for mounting the ball cage to the PCB  775  (FIG.  7 A), while mounting pins or bosses  1000  also include a bore  995  to permit the subassembly  765  to be affixed to the ball cage  715 . A pair of guide pins  1005  are also provided for positioning the ball cage relative to the PCB  775 . 
     A flattened portion  1010  (FIG. 9D) is provided to receive and position the sensor relative to the lens and window discussed above in connection with FIG.  7 A. The flattened portion  1010  cooperates with the orifice  885  to permit the ball  710  (FIG. 7A) to extend through the orifice so as to be illuminated by light from the LEDs  730  and illuminate a sensor with light diffusely reflected off the ball  710  (FIG.  7 A). 
     Referring next to FIGS. 10A-10D and FIGS. 11A-11D, the opto housing cover and opto housings can be better appreciated. In particular, the opto housing cover  725  is shown in front elevational view (FIG.  10 A), rear elevational view (FIG.  10 B), side elevational view (FIG.  10 C), and front and rear perspective view (FIG.  10 D). The opto housing  750 , which mates to the upper housing  725 , is show in top plan view in FIG. 11A, in side elevational view in FIG.  11 B. and in bottom plan view in FIG.  11 C. In FIG. 11D, the combination of the opto housing cover, opto housing, lens, mirror and sensor are shown assembled in cross-sectional side view in relation to the ball. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 10A-10D, the opto housing cover  725  functions to position the LEDs  730  in a manner which floods a selected portion of the ball  710 , while also positioning the lens, window and sensor relative to the ball so that light reflected from the ball impacts the lens and, from there, the sensor. The housing  725  includes an angled bore  1020 , at the outside end of which one of the LEDs may be positioned. The bore communicates with the central portion of the upper housing. A raised member  1025  positioned substantially at the center of the upper housing provides support for one end of the window  740 , while the lens  745  is supported within a recess  1030  partially formed in the upper housing  725 . The raised member  1025 , as well as the recess  1030 , join with mating portions  1035  and  1040 , respectively, of the opto housing  750 , as shown particularly In FIG.  11 A. In addition, as shown in both FIGS. 11A and 11B, the opto housing includes an angled bore  1045  symmetrical to the bore  1020  for supporting the second of the LEDs  730  which, like the first LED, illuminates the lower portion of the ball  710  so that diffuse light is directed onto the sensor  735 . As noted previously, diffuse light is presently preferred because of the improved contrast it provides on the light and dark sections of the ball  710 . 
     In addition, the lower housing  750  also includes a recess  1050  to receive the sensor  735 , as better appreciated in FIG.  11 D. 
     FIG. 11D, which is a cross-sectional side view of the upper and lower housings together with lens, sensor and window, illustrates the relationship between the key optical elements of this embodiment. In particular, the opto housing cover  725  can be seen to mate with the opto housing  750 , with the two opto housings cooperating to position and support the lens  745  in alignment between the ball  710  and the sensor  735 . The window  740  is interposed between the ball and the lens, and in those embodiments which use infrared illumination of The ball may be made from a material which appears black in the visible spectrum but is transparent to infrared frequencies, which allows extraneous visible light (such as might enter between the bail and retaining ring) to be filtered out. In addition, the retaining clip  760  can be seen on the underside of the lower housing  750 . Not shown in FIG. 11D are the bores through which the LEDs  730  illuminate the ball  710 . 
     To better understand the optical path of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11, FIGS. 12A-12C show the operation of the optics in simplified form. In particular, in the simplified drawing of FIG. 12A, the ball  710  is retained within the ball cage  715  by the retaining ring  720 . A pair of LEDs  730  illuminate the lower portion of the ball, with the light diffusely reflected through a transparent portion onto the lens  745  and thence onto the sensor  735 . In addition, other aspects of this embodiment which can be appreciated from this simplified view are the seal formed by the retainer ring, which helps to prevent dust and dirt from entering the ball cage, and the transparent window which further assists in preventing dirt from blocking the optics. 
     Referring next to FIG. 12B, the optical arrangement for a classical lens in an in-line arrangement of ball, lens and sensor are shown. In particular, an area  1210  of the ball is illuminated from the LEDs discussed previously. Diffuse light from the illuminated portion of the ball passes through a lens  1220  and strikes a sensor  1230 . The lens, which may be made of glass or any suitable optical plastic such as polymethylmethacrylate (typically polished or molded such as by hot pressing), may be a simple biconvex lens having both radii equal to, for example, 2.37 mm where the thickness of the lens is on the order of 1.23 mm and the distance from the ball to the nearest lens surface is on the order of 4.35 mm. Similarly, the distance from the sensor to the nearest lens surface is on the order of 4.42 mm. In such an arrangement the field of view of ball is about 2.8 mm in diameter. The optically free diameter of the lens is preferably limited, and in the foregoing example may be limited to about 1.5 mm aperture. The optical limits may be imposed by mechanical or other means. 
     Referring next to FIG. 12C, the optical arrangement for a classical lens in a lateral arrangement of ball, lens and sensor are shown. This approach, which is presently preferred and shown in the second and third embodiments herein described, involves a folded light path. In particular, an area  1240  of the ball is illuminated from the LEDs discussed previously. Diffuse light from the illuminated portion of the ball passes through a portion of a piano-convex lens  1250 , which is hemispherical in an exemplary embodiment. As before the lens may be made of polylmethacrylate (PMMA), but now has a flat, mirrored back surface. The size of the mirrored area provides an aperture stop equivalent to that required in the in-line arrangement of FIG. 12B, and in the embodiment described herein may be, for example, on the order of 1.8 mm aperture where the field of view of the ball is again 2.8 mm, but the lens-to-ball distance is on the order of 3.2 mm and the lens to sensor distance is on the order of 3.3 mm. In this example, the radius of the lens may be on the order of 1.75 mm. The total deflection angle of the lens is not especially critical, and for the embodiment described may vary between seventy-two and ninety degrees without deterioration of optical performance. A baffle  1260  may be provided to ensure that no light from the ball strikes the sensor directly. In the event the sensor is covered with a protection layer (usually epoxy), the distance between the lens and the sensor may need to be increased by an amount of about one-third of the thickness of the protective layer. Such a simplified correction term is adequate for layers up to one millimeter thickness with a refractive index of 1.5±0.05. Alternatively, the surface of the protection layer may be curved to form a negative lens, which will act as a field flattener and thereby reduce the image field curvature. This would tend to improve the resolution and contrast in the border area of the sensor. 
     With reference next to FIG. 13, the operation of the sensor electronics of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A can be better appreciated. In general, the electronics associated with the second embodiment described above is in some respects presently preferred over that associated with the first embodiment described above, although each approach has merit. In general, the electronics implemented in the second embodiment comprises an array of pixels composed of both the photodiode to detect the image and the circuitry both to perform the calculation and store the information, together with appropriate electronics to communicate that information to a host system. From the description of FIG. 5A, it will be apparent that the circuits of FIG. 13 are essentially a replacement for the sensor circuit  545  shown in FIG.  5 A. In particular, as shown in FIG. 13, the logic associated with the device of FIG. 7A includes a pixel matrix  1305 , which is typically an 11×11 array of photodiodes and associated circuits but could be substantially larger in at least some embodiments. The circuit also includes a current-based A/D converter circuit  1315  substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 5B but expanded to four data bits plus sign, an absolute value circuit  1320  substantially the same as shown in FIG. 5B (which supplies the sign for the  4  bit data word from the A/D converter), a top ring shift register  1325  and an analog mux  1330 , a right ring shift register  1335  and an associated plurality of two-to-four decoders (eleven for an 11×11 array)  1340 , data storage logic  1345 , a current reference circuit  1350 , and interface logic  1355 . In addition, the logic includes a first test shift register  1360  for the rows on the left of the matrix  1305 , together with a second test shift register  1365  for the columns in the bottom of the matrix. For a matrix of 11×11, each shift register is eleven bits, but it will be apparent that the size of the shift register could be varied over a very large range to correspond to the number of pixels on one side of the matrix. In addition, a plurality of test pads  1370  is also provided, as are V DD  and V ss  circuits. The A/D converter circuit for the exemplary embodiment described herein is preferably a sequential, asynchronous device to reduce the circuitry required for implementation, although in other embodiments a parallel converter may be preferred. In addition, in some embodiments a sample and hold circuit can be provided ahead of the A/D converter circuits. 
     In the logic of FIG. 13, all of the digital blocks operate under the control of the interface logic  1355 , which also interacts with the primary analog elements. In turn, the chip is typically controlled via a microcontroller, as illustrated previously. The interface logic uses only synchronous logic blocks. as is therefore capable of being controlled by a synchronous state machine with a counter, such as a seven bit counter for the embodiment of FIG.  13 . In addition, for the embodiment described no “power-on-reset” function is required, since the logic reaches a deterministic state after a predictably small number of cycles, such as about 150 cycles with the bidirectional (or input and output) “data” line forced high for the exemplary embodiment shown. 
     Referring next to FIG. 14, the architecture of the interface logic  1355  may be appreciated in greater detail. A control state machine  1400 , operating in connection with a seven bit counter  1405 , operates generally to select from among various inputs to place data on a bidirectional pad  1410  by control of a mux  1415 . The counter  1405  can be preset or can decrement its current count by means of a signal from the state machine  1400 . In addition, if the count in the counter  1405  is null, the state machine is forced to change state by means of a signal supplied to the state machine. 
     The inputs to the mux  1415  include pixel information on line  1420 , edge information on line  1425 , a check bit on line  1430 , or either wake up information on line  1435  or serial data out on line  1440 . Both the wake up information and the serial data out information are provided by a parallel to serial converter  1445 , which receives its input from a mux  1450  having, for the exemplary embodiment shown, a twelve bit output. The input to the mux  1450  can be either displacement data on line  1455 , or predetermined ID information, such as ID=HOD 1  on line  1460 . It will be apparent that the function of the mux  1450  is to select one of its two inputs for supply to the parallel-to-serial converter  1445 , and is controlled by the state machine  1400 . It will be noted that neither pixel information on line  1420  or edge information on line  1425  is latched in the exemplary embodiment, to allow real-time switching. However, it may be desirable in some embodiments to provide such latching. The check bit on line  1430  is toggled after any image sample, and allows the processor to determine whether the chip is synchronized to ensure proper communications. 
     The particular input chosen to be passed through the mux  1415  IS selected by control lines  1460  from the state machine  1400 , which also supplies direction information on line  1465  to the bidirectional pad  1410  to determine whether signals flow to or from the pad  1410 . If the state machine  1400  is seeking information from the pad  1410 , the incoming data can be latched into a D flip-flop  1470 , where the clock is controlled by the state machine  1400 . Data at the output of the flip-flop  1470  is then supplied to the state machine  1400 , a serial-to-parallel converter  1475 , and to a plurality of test image simulation circuits  1480  for diagnostics. The signals which can be supplied to the remainder of the circuitry from the serial-to-parallel converter  1475  include reference level and hysteresis, on line  1485 , dis_sample on line  1490 , and dis_idle on line  1495 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 15, the operation of the state machine  1400  is shown in greater detail in the form of a state diagram. As will be apparent from FIG. 14, the state machine is controlled from two inputs: one from the seven bit counter  1405 , when the counter reaches a null value, and another from data in from the bidirectional pad  1410  through the D flip-flop  1470 . In the drawing, “in” means that the microcontroller associated with the sensor chip must force a logical level on the data pad  1410 , while “out” means that the interface logic  1355  will drive a logical level on the “data out” line from the mux  1415 . Each box of the state diagram of FIG. 15 shows the name of the state as well as the operation performed, such as a pre-set to a certain value or a decrementing. In the exemplary embodiment shown, states will typically change on the rising clock edge, and control inputs are latched on the fall edge of the clock signal. Essentially, at the end of each cycle, the machine moves to the state for which the condition is true; but if no condition is true, the state remains unchanged for that cycle. Such a condition can occur, for example, when the machine forces the counter to decrement. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conventions used in the C programming language have also been used in FIG.  15 . 
     Operation begins at RESET step  1500 , typically following an initialization step. For the exemplary embodiment shown, a typical reset can occur by applying a predetermined number of clock cycles with the “data” line forced high. Alternatively, a pull up arrangement could be implemented and the data line forced low to achieve an equivalent result. The maximum number of cycles necessary to reach a known or “reset” state from an unknown, random starting state can be derived by inspection of FIGS. 13 and 14. For the embodiment shown, the maximum number of cycles necessary to reach a determined state is  143 , which occurs when the initial state is “wakeup”. For conservative simplicity, approximately 150 cycles may be used. Alternately, a more conventional reset can be provided. Following the RESET step, the state machine moves to one of seven selector states, SELECTOR1-SELECTOR7, indicated at reference numerals  1505 - 1535 , respectively, which allows the microcontroller to choose among different operations to be performed. If the SELECTOR1 state indicated at  1505  is selected, the next state is the SSAMPLE, indicated at  1540 . The SSAMPLE state is the first state of the displacement reading loop. In this state, “data” is driven with the “check_bit” value (shown as  1430  in FIG.  14 ). If the value of “dis_sample” on line  1490  (FIG. 14) is low, pixel currents from the pixel matrix  1305  (FIG. 13) are sampled on the failing edge of the clock signal CK in a manner described in greater detail hereinafter. Upon leaving the state, the “check_bit” signal on line  1430  (FIG. 14) is toggled and the displacement is latched into the parallel-to-serial register/converter  1425 . The displacement data is later shifted out. Following the SSAMPLE state, the state machine  1400  moves to the WAKEUP state  1545 , where “wake-up” information is put on “data”. For the exemplary embodiment shown, a wake-up occurs where there is sufficient X or Y movement to exceed the hysteresis programmed into the system. This can be expressed as “wake-up”=((X[3:0] AND hysteresis) OR (Y[3:0] AND hysteresis)≠0). If the result is a one, or high, the edges are latched in the pixels when “CK” is low. A high result means that the state machine moves to the GETDISP state  1550 ; a low result means that the state branches back to the SELECTOR1 state  1505 . The microcontroller is able to force the machine to branch to the GETDISP state  1550  by forcing up the “data” level, but the edges in the pixels will not be latched. The machine thereafter advances by returning to the SELECTOR1 state  1505 . 
     If the SELECTOR2 state  1510  was selected, the next state is RESETALL, indicated at  1555 . If “data” is high, a general reset is performed. All test shift registers (FIG. 13) and switches are reset to 0, and the hysteresis reference level is reset to B11110; likewise, sample is enabled, normal sleep mode is enabled, and the checkbit is cleared. However, if “data” is low, no operation is performed. The machine then advances to the next state, GETID, indicated at  1560 , and identification bits are put serially on “data”, with the most significant bit first, for example B000011010001. The machine next returns to the RESET state  1500 . 
     If the SELECTOR4 state was selected, and “data” is high, the machine advances to the FORCESHIFT state, indicated at  1565 . If “data” is high, the edges are latched in the pixels during the Low phase of “CK”, and the current edges replace the old edges. The machine then advances to the NOTFORCESLEEP state, indicated at  1570 , where, if “data” is Low the chip is in sleep mode during the Low phase of “CK”. On the next cycle the machine advances to the SETREFSW state, indicated at  1575 . In this state the values of different switches and reference levels (or hysteresis values) can be defined. In order of priority, dis_sample is set and, if high, no image sample is done at the “SSAMPLE” state and edges for the current image are frozen. The sensor chip is thus in a high power consumption mode. Next in priority, dis_idle is set, but only has meaning if dis_sample is low. If dis_sample is low and dis_idle is also low, edges for the current image are held only during the low phase of “CK” in the “SSAMPLE” state, during the “WAKEUP” state, and the first high phase of “CK” in the “GETDISP” or “SELECTOR1” states. If the dis_idle bit is low, the edges are held everywhere except in the high phase of “CK” in the “SSAMPLE” state. Those skilled in the art will recognize that power will be wasted if this bit is active. For the particular embodiment shown, the reference level, or hysteresis, is set by four bits, with MSB first. The machine thereafter returns to the RESET state  1500  when the counter  1405  (FIG. 14) reaches a zero. 
     If the value of “data” had been low, or “Idata” at the SELECTOR4 state, the machine would next have advanced to the GETIMAG state, indicated at  1580 . In this state, an image scan is performed by comparing pixel currents one by one with a reference current. The details of this operation have been treated generally in connection with the first embodiment, described above, and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. After the image scan is completed, the machine returns to the RESET state  1500  in response to a zero from the counter  1405  (FIG.  14 ). 
     If the SELECTOR5 state was selected, the machine would thereafter advance to the SETTEST state, indicated at  1585 . The SETTEST state is used for testing the operation of the pixel matrix  1305 . The machine will remain in this state for enough clock cycles to cycle through each column and row of pixels; thus, for an eleven by eleven matrix, the machine remains in the SETTEST state for twenty-two clock cycles. The bits on “data” are sampled and shifted in the test shift registers to create an artificial image, which may then be analyzed to ensure proper operation of the system. The machine thereafter advances to the RESET state  1500  in response to a null value in the counter  1405 . 
     If the SELECTOR6 state was selected, the machine would next advance to the SCANCOLOR state, indicated at  1590 . In this state color information is scanned in a manner analogous to the operation of the system in the GETIMAG state  1580 . Thereafter, the machine would advance to the RESET state  1500  in response to a null value in the counter  1405 . Similarly, if the SELECTOR7 state had been selected, and “data” was high, the machine would advance to the SCANEDGEX state, indicated at  1595 A, where “edge X” information is scanned. Alternatively, if “Idata” was present, the machine would advance to the SCANEDGEY state, indicated at  1595 B, where “edge Y” information would be scanned. The sequence of operation for the remainder of the system during the SCANEDGEX and SCANEDGEY states is the same as for the GETIMAG state  1580 . After either state, the machine returns to the RESET state  1500  in response to a null value on the counter  1405  (FIG.  14 ). 
     Set forth below in table form is the signal driven on the “data” lines of the bidirectional pad  1410  (FIG. 14) when the sensor of FIG. 13 is in the output mode: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 STATE NAME 
                 SIGNAL 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 SSAMPLE 
                 check bit 
               
               
                   
                 WAKEUP 
                 wakeup 
               
               
                   
                 GETDISP 
                 serialout 
               
               
                   
                 GETID 
                 serialout 
               
               
                   
                 GETIMAG 
                 pixel info 
               
               
                   
                 SCANCOLOR 
                 edge info 
               
               
                   
                 SCANEDGEX 
                 edge info 
               
               
                   
                 SCANEDGEY 
                 edge info 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In addition, it is necessary to avoid any loops in the unused states of the machine. The state attribution table is shown below: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 STATE NAME 
                 STATE VALUE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 RESET 
                 ′H00 
               
               
                   
                 WAKEUP 
                 ′H01 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR6 
                 ′H02 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR7 
                 ′H03 
               
               
                   
                 SETTEST 
                 ′H04 
               
               
                   
                 SETREFSW 
                 ′H05 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR2 
                 ′H06 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR3 
                 ′H07 
               
               
                   
                 SCANEDGEY 
                 ′H08 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR4 
                 ′H09 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR1 
                 ′H0A 
               
               
                   
                 SCANEDGEX 
                 ′H0B 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H0C 
               
               
                   
                 RESETALL 
                 ′H0D 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H0E 
               
               
                   
                 GETIMAG 
                 ′H0F 
               
               
                   
                 GETID 
                 ′H10 
               
               
                   
                 SELECTOR5 
                 ′H11 
               
               
                   
                 GETDISP 
                 ′H12 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H13 
               
               
                   
                 SSAMPLE 
                 ′H14 
               
               
                   
                 SCANCOLOR 
                 ′H15 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H16 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H17 
               
               
                   
                 FORCESHIFT 
                 ′H18 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H19 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H1A 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H1B 
               
               
                   
                 NOTFORCESLEEP 
                 ′H1C 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H1D 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H1E 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ′H1F 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     State values having no state name are unused; in addition, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the state machine has been designed to reset after only one clock cycle in the-event the machine enters into one of the unused states. 
     Referring next to FIG. 16, the organization and operation of the pixel matrix  1305  (FIG. 13) may be better understood. As previously noted, an 11×11 pixel matrix has been used in the second exemplary embodiment. The resulting  121  pixels are divided into four types: type P, which denotes a standard pixel with photodiode, amplifier, current comparator and digital memory for storing edge information; type D, which denotes a pixel with a diode and amplifier only; type E, which denotes an empty pixel; and type T, which is a test pixel biased like a type P or D, but with its output connections tied to test pads rather than connected to the displacement calculation circuitry. The type P pixels provide the conventional image data used by the remainder of the sensor. The type D are used to define border conditions and to provide its illumination current to neighboring pixels. The type E sensors are used for signal routing purposes. Finally, the type T pixels are accessible externally for test purposes only. From the arrangement of pixels in FIG. 16, it will be apparent that type P pixels predominate in the center of the sensor, while the type D pixels define a perimeter around the type P pixels. During any scan, the matrix is addressed row by row through incrementing of the column index, or: 
     (row# 0 , col# 0 ), (row# 0 , col# 1 , (row# 0 , col# 2 ) . . . (row# 0 , col# 10 ), (row# 1 , col# 0 ) . . . (row# 10 , col# 10 ). 
     It will be appreciated that, for the exemplary pixel arrangement shown in FIG. 16, the origin has been arbitrarily defined as the lower right corner. 
     During the various scans of the pixel matrix  1305 , various information will be provided from the various types of pixels. Set forth below in table form are the types of information expected from addressing the specified pixel type during the different types of scans, with the associated state of the state machine  1400  in parentheses: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Type P 
                 Type D 
                 Type E 
                 Type T 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Pixel 
                 Current 
                 Current 
                 0 if I ref  &gt; 0 
                 Current 
               
               
                 Information 
                 Comparison 
                 Comparison 
                   
                 Comparison 
               
               
                 (Get Image) 
                 result 
                 result 
                   
                 result 
               
               
                   
                 (I pix -I ref  &gt; 0) 
                 (I pix -I ref  &gt; 0) 
                   
                 (I pix -I ref  &gt; 0) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Edge X 
                 Edge X 
                 1 
                 1 
                 Edge X 
               
               
                 information 
                 (comparison 
                   
                   
                 (comparison 
               
               
                 (scanedgex) 
                 with the left) 
                   
                   
                 with the left) 
               
               
                 Edge Y 
                 Edge Y 
                 1 
                 1 
                 Edge Y 
               
               
                 Information 
                 (comparison 
                   
                   
                 (comparison 
               
               
                 (scanedgey) 
                 with the top) 
                   
                   
                 with the top) 
               
               
                 Color 
                 Color 
                 1 
                 1 
                 1 (*) 
               
               
                 Information 
               
               
                 (scancolor) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the value of the current I ref  cannot be null to avoid floating nodes. The current I ref  can be set through the reference level, or hysteresis, as described above in connection with the description of the state machine  1400 . 
     The entries in the table having an asterisk are valid only in the absence of current injection through the test pads. For test purposes, the interface  1355  (FIG. 13) can be placed in a special mode to force an artificial image. The artificial image is formed with pseudo-active pixels, which are of types D and T. at the crossings of two perpendicular active lines by entering two test words, one for lines and one for columns. The artificial image can be cleared with a data High during the RESETALL state  1555 . 
     Operation of the sensor of the present invention is fundamentally the recognition of edges and tracking those changes over time. As noted previously, an edge is defined as a difference of intensities between two adjacent black and white pixels. For the present invention, the difference of intensities is typically (though not necessarily) sensed as a difference in currents. With the optics and ball of the exemplary embodiment, the ratio between the currents corresponding to black and white spots is typically between 3 and 4 or at least larger than 2 in both the x and y directions, although smaller differences may also be acceptable in some embodiments. For purposes of discussion of this embodiment, an edge will be defined as laying between two photodetectors if the ratio of intensities of the two adjacent photodetectors is larger than two. By use of a differential approach, as mentioned briefly above as an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the edges can be detected independently of the absolute light intensity. In addition, differential sensing is less sensitive to gradients due either to lighting conditions or the curvature of the ball, as long as the fall-off in intensity for a ball surface of uniform color does not result in a ratio greater than two between two pixels. 
     The differential sensor shown in FIG. 17A is one approach to detecting the edges of the moving ball, and can be taken in conjunction with FIG. 17B, which shows a plurality of pixels P and two successive images I t  and I t−1  at times t and t−1 where black and white pixels represent low or high reflected light levels, respectively, while hashed pixels represent pixels detecting an intensity change. A photodiode  1700  receives light input reflected off the ball, and provides accumulates charge in proportion to the light reaching It while the LEDs  730  (FIG.  7 A), which are typically pulsed, are on. The current is supplied to an amplifier  1705 . The amplifier  1705  amplifies the current enough to output a current I out  sufficient to allow a comparison with the adjacent right and top pixels in a predetermined time period, such as 50 μs. Each pixel also sends its current to its bottom and left neighbors, as explained previously in connection with FIG.  4  and shown in FIG. 17 as  1710 A-B,  1715 ,  1720 ,  1725 ,  1730 ,  1735 ,  1740 , and  1745 . The outputs of the various differential stages  1710 - 1745  can then compared in current comparators  1750 A- 1750 D, and the results of those comparisons can be latched into latches  1760 A- 1760 C, after conditioning through combinational logic  1765 - 1775  and activation of the latch operating signal nshift. Comparisons can then be performed while the LED is off, where the latches store data representing values for edges on the X axis (E x ), edges on the Y axis (E y ), and color of the pixel (C and its complement NC), but as they existed during the previous state. The stored data from the previous state may be represented as oE x , oE y , and oC. 
     For the exemplary embodiment shown herein, various assumptions have been made about the signal currents. First, to accurately detect edges, it has been assumed above that the ratio of currents corresponding to a black spot and a white spot are assumed to be at least two: thus, a value of two has been arbitrarily chosen for the current comparator, although a lower or higher value would also work. Second, it has been assumed for the exemplary embodiment that the mismatch between two adjacent photodiodes is less than twenty percent although it has been shown that the circuit works acceptably at least as low as a ratio of 1.7:1. 
     An edge is detected is the current in the sampled pixel is either twice or half the current in the neighboring pixel. In addition, color of the pixel is determined as high, or white, if the current in the pixel is either twice the current in the adjacent right cell or twice the current in the adjacent top cell. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the teachings herein, that such a paradigm detects color in a sampled pixel only when an edge exists at its right or at its top, and tests only for white pixel. It is believed apparent that the invention includes extending detection to comparisons with other selected pixels and testing for black spots, and detailed discussion of such addition features is not believed necessary in this disclosure. 
     The pixel circuitry depicted in FIG. 17 also offers the additional feature of having test circuitry integrated into the sensor. A test current source I test  indicated at  1785  has been provided to supply a reference signal in parallel with the charge amplifier  1705 . This permits injection of an image through the circuitry at the wafer test level, which reduces the amount of time required to test each wafer. In addition, as noted previously, a scanning scheme allows comparisons between the value of the analog output current of the charge amplifier with a programmable reference current. The reference current I ref , as noted previously, can be set by a four bit digital word supplied to control hysteresis. For the particular embodiment shown, if ail four bits of the hysteresis word are zero, I ref  will be zero; but if all four bits are ones, I ref  will be about 500 nA, which is substantially representative of the current amplifier in response to a pulse of white light for a suitable period. 
     Referring next to FIG. 18, the bidirectional pad of the present invention may be better appreciated. A DATA OUT signal, on line  1900 , is combined with a DIR signal on line  1905  in a NOR gate  1910 . The output of the NOR gate  1910  supplies a non-inverting gate to a transistor  1915  and an inverting gate to a transistor  1920 . Connecting between the respective source and drain of the transistors  1915  and  1920  is a pull down resistor  1925 , which may for example be on the order of 10-20K Ω. A diode  1930  is shunted across the source and drain of the transistor  1915 , the drain of which is tied to ground. The output of the transistor/pullup resistor stage is taken at the junction  1935  of the drain of the transistor  1920  and one end of the resistor  1925 . A second diode  1940 A is connected between ground and the junction  1935  and  1940  while a third diode  1940 B is connected between the voltage supply and the junction  1935 . A pair of splitter resistors  1945 A-B are series connected between the output pad  1950  of the sensor and the junction  1935 . A pair of diodes  1955 A-B and commonly connected to the junction between the pad  1950  and the resistor  1945 B, with the other terminals of the diodes connected to ground and the voltage supply, respectively. Finally, a data input from the pad  1950  (or external to the sensor) to the remainder of the interface logic  1355  is taken at the junction of the two resistors  1945 A-B, through two buffer inverters  1960 . 
     The arrangement shown in FIG. 18, while facilitating bi-directional communication between the sensor of the present invention and the external world, is particularly important because it allows reduction in pin count. In the exemplary embodiment described herein, particularly as shown in FIG. 7A, the sensor can be seen to have only four pins, which facilitates mounting and relating issues. 
     To achieve the goal of bi-directionality, the pull down resistor  1925  is switch between input and output states at appropriate times. The pad  1410  (FIG. 14) is controlled so that the pull down resistor  1925  is connected when the pad is in input mode—which occurs when the signal DIR on line  1905  is low. However, the resistor  1925  is disconnected when the Dad is in the output mode, caused by the signal DIR being high. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, if the data output signal on line  1915  is to be high, the state of the signal DIR is Important. However, if the signal on line  1915  is to be low, the state of the DIR signal is irrelevant. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the delay associated with pad capacitance must be taken into account to achieve acceptable response times; for the exemplary embodiment described herein, the capacitance associated with the pad is about 20 pf. 
     Shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B are timing diagrams for various operational states of the system. FIG. 19A describes the main loop that is used to read displacements, while FIG. 19B describes the latching of a new image, as well as the imposition of sleep mode. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 20A-E, a third embodiment of the present invention may be better appreciated. The FIGS. 20A-E show the trackball in exploded perspective, top plan, front elevational, rear elevational and side elevational views, respectively, with like elements for the embodiment of FIGS. 7A et seq. having like reference numerals. This embodiment, which is also a trackball but is implemented as an external device rather than integrated into the remainder of a system such as laptop computer or other control device, includes an upper housing  2005  and a lower housing  2010 , best appreciated from the exploded perspective view of FIG.  20 A. The upper housing  2005  includes an angled aperture  2015  through which a ball such as the ball  710  may be inserted. A retaining ring  2017  may be provided to allow easy insertion and removal of the ball. A plurality of buttons or switches  2020 A-C may be provided for entering commands of pointing devices. 
     Enclosed within the housings  2005  and  2010  is a ball cage  2050 , as shown in FIGS. 21A-D, which supports the ball  710 . The ball cage is affixed to a printed circuit board  2051  by means of a pair of clips  2052 A-B in combination with a pair of positioning pins  2052 C-D, all of which extend through associated slots or holes in the printed circuit board  2051 . The lens  745  is held in position by a metallic clip  2053  which extends from the underside of the PC board  2051 , through a pair of slots therein, and clips into position on a pair of ears  2054  on the ballcage. The ball rests on three bearings  2055 , each of which is maintained within one of three posts  2060 A,  2060 B and  2060 C. Unlike similar supports known in the art in which the bearing typically are located in a horizontal plane, the post  2060 C is shorter than the posts  2060 A and  2060 B so that the bearings define a plane sloped at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. This angled support cooperates with the upper housing  2005  to cause the ball to extend through the angled aperture  2015 , which allows an improved, ergonomic positioning of the thumb relative to the remainder of the hand, such that the fingers and thumb of the hand are in a substantially neutral posture while operating the trackball. In addition, a pair of arcuate supports  2065  may be provided to increase the rigidity of the baseplate, and may provide some absorption of force in the event the device is dropped. An aperture  2070  is provided through which the ball may be illuminated and viewed by the same optics and same electronics as is used with the embodiment of FIG.  7 A. The sensor  735  is held in place by a further pair of clips  2056  which are typically formed as part of the ball cage  2050 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 21C and 21D, the operation of the optics may be better appreciated. FIG. 21C shows the ball cage  2050  in rear elevational view, while FIG. 21D shows a portion of the ball cage  2050  in relation to a ball such as the ball  710 . A window  2075  is provided in the optical path between the ball  710  and the sensor  735 , with the lens  745  providing a folded light path as in the third embodiment. Referring again to FIG. 21B, the location for the sensor  735  is provided by a mounting boss  2080 , while a pair of cylindrical ports  2085 A-B are provided into which a pair of LEDs such as the LEDs  730  of FIG. 7A may be inserted to illuminate the ball  710  through ports  2090 A and  2090 B. 
     Referring next to FIG. 22. a further embodiment of the present invention may be appreciated. The embodiment of FIG. 22 is particularly of interest because it does not use a speckled ball or other speckled pattern, but at the same time works on the same principles as the remaining embodiments disclosed herein. In particular, a housing  2200  includes an orifice  2205  into which a window  2210  may be placed, although the window is neither necessary nor preferred in all embodiments. A prism  2215  is also supported within the housing  2200  at a position which is optically aligned with the window  2210 . In an exemplary embodiment the prism  2215  is a right angle prism positioned with its hypotenuse face placed parallel to (or as a replacement for) the window  2210 . One or more LEDs are positioned in line with one of the right angle faces to cause total internal reflection of the light emitted by the LEDs off the inside of hypotenuse face of the prism  2215 , in the absence of interference. Optically aligned with the LEDs, but on the side of the other right angle face of the prism  2215 , is a lens  2220 , which may be a biconvex lens. The prism may be of any suitable angle which provides for total internal reflection: i.e., the incidence angle of the light is greater than arcsin(1/n), where “n” is the refractive index of the prism material. In the exemplary embodiment, where the prism may be made of PMMA, this angle is about forty-two degrees from perpendicular. The window  2210  may be provided to serve as a filter for visible light, and also to provide a more scratch resistant surface than the prism  2215 ; in at least some embodiments it is useful to affix the window directly to the prism. 
     Positioned on the opposite side of the lens  2220  from the prism  2215  and optically aligned with it is a sensor such as the sensor  735 . During operation, a finger (not shown) may be placed on the window  2210  and moved thereover. In the absence of a finger, light from the LED enters the prism and strikes the top surface of the prism at an angle greater than 42 degrees from perpendicular, thus causing total internal reflection. When a finger is present, the ridges of the fingerprint contact the glass, canceling the total reflection in the contact areas. By properly adjusting the focal length of the lens  2220  and the optical path length from the window  2210  to the sensor  735 , an image of the finger&#39;s ridges and whorls—i.e., the fingerprint—may be formed on the sensor  735 . In this manner the movement of the light and dark spaces of the fingerprint over the window  2210  yields the same edge movement over the pixels of the sensor  735  as occurs with the movement of the ball  710 , allowing cursor movement to be controlled merely by the movement of a finger. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the linear optical path of FIG. 22 may be made more compact by providing a more complicated prism which folds the light path. In at least some such embodiments, a lens may be formed integrally with the prism to focus the image on the sensor, and one of the right angle surfaces of the prism itself may provide the window against which the finger may be placed. In other embodiments, the lens may be eliminated simply by placing the finger against the hypotenuse of a right angle prism, which permits a light source on one of the right angle sides to illuminate the finger, with the reflected light illuminating a sensor of the type described above. In each of these embodiments the resulting image on the sensor is the result of frustrated total internal reflection, wherein the presence of the light and dark spots of the illuminated finger prevent total reflection of the illuminating light. 
     In addition to providing an elegantly simple solution for cursor control, detection of the fingerprint ridges also providing a method of detecting switch activity. By increasing finger pressure on the window or prism, the percentage of dark areas increase. A thresholding circuit may be provided such that, by an increase in dark areas in excess of the threshold, a “switch” activity may be detected. It will also be appreciated that the embodiment of FIG. 22 provides an effective, efficient device for identifying fingerprints, when combined with suitable electronics for storing and comparing appropriate images. Those skilled in the art, given the teachings herein, will recognize that numerous other alternatives also exist. 
     It is also possible to create an optical mouse which does not require a ball by using a similar imaging technique. A pattern, such as that on a table or other suitable printed figure having sufficient numbers of dark and light areas of sufficient size, can be detected in much the same manner as a fingerprint, although the particular components of the device are somewhat different. With reference to FIG. 23A-B, an optical mouse is shown which uses the same principles as discussed in connection with the second and third embodiments discussed previously. The upper housing and most of the lower housing have been removed for clarity from the device shown in FIG. 23, although appropriate housings are generally well known in the art; see, for example, FIG. 2 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 672,090, filed Mar. 19, 1991 and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the relevant portions of which are incorporated by reference. As before, like components are given like numerals. In particular, an optical assembly  2290  includes an optical housing  2300  having a pair or angular bores  2310 A-B each of which receives, respectively, one of the LEDs  730 . An upper central bore  2320  extends from the top of the optical housing  2300  and part way therethrough until it communicates with a lower central bore  2330 . The lower central bore extends through the bottom of the optical housing  2300 , but is smaller in diameter than the upper central bore  2320  so that the lower central bore fits between the angular bores  2310 A-B, and is typically spaced symmetrically therebetween. The purpose of the central bore  2360  is to provide a shutter, and also to prevent stray light from reaching the sensor. A plate or window  2340  is affixed by any suitable means to the bottom of the housing  2300 . The plate  2340  is transparent to the frequency of light emitted by the LEDs  730 , and may be made of any suitably transparent material which is also scratch resistant such as plastic or glass. 
     The lens  745  is positioned within the upper central bore  2320 , which is typically sized to center the lens  745  above the lower central bore  2330 . An aperture plate  2350 , typically of substantially the same outer diameter as the upper central bore  2320 , fits into the upper central bore  2320  to fixedly position the lens  745 . The aperture plate  2350  further includes a central bore  2360  which communicates light passing through the lens  745  to the sensor  735 , positioned above the aperture plate  2350 . The central bore  2360  may also be conical, with the narrower portion at the bottom. A retaining ring  2370 , which fastens to the top of the optical housing  2300  by any suitable means, such as clips or screws, maintains the relative positions of the sensor  735 , aperture plate  2350  and lens  745 . 
     The assembly  2290  is positioned within the upper and lower housings of a mouse so that the plate or window  2340  is positioned above a speckled pattern of the same criteria as that on the ball  710 , although in this instance the pattern is provided on a pad, tabletop, or other suitable, substantially flat surface. A portion of a suitable lower housing is shown at  2380 . As the mouse is moved over the pattern, the light from the LEDs  730  is directed through the plate  2340  onto the pattern, and in turn is directed through the plate  2340 , up through the lower central bore  2330  and through the lens  745 . The lens then images the pattern on the sensor  735  in the same manner as discussed previously, so that movement may be readily detected by the changes in position of the edges in the pattern. While the exemplary embodiment has two LEDs, in at least some embodiments only a single LED is required. 
     While the foregoing design provides a simple and elegant design for a mouse capable of detecting motion, it typically requires a pattern having speckles meeting the criteria previously discussed. However, by altering the optical components to resolve small pattern elements, it is also possible to provide a pointing device which can detect movement over an object such as everyday paper, where the weave of the paper provides the detected pattern. 
     Having fully described a preferred embodiment of the invention and various alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize, given the teachings herein, that numerous alternatives and equivalents exist which do not depart from the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited by the foregoing description, but only by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6