Patent ID: 7679605

Claim:
An optical computer mouse comprising: a support structure operable to move across a work surface; an illumination source, coupled to the support structure, operable to illuminate a region of the work surface; an imaging system, coupled to the support structure comprising: an optical sensor array operable to sense light from the illuminated region of the work surface; and an image processor operable to receive signals from the optical sensor array; and a switch operable to switch the optical computer mouse between a navigation mode of operation, in which the image processor is operable to detect motion of the optical computer mouse over the work surface, and a barcode reading mode of operation, in which the image processor is operable to sense a barcode pattern as the optical computer mouse is moved across a barcode, wherein the image processor of the optical computer mouse is operable to receive signals from only a sub-array of elements of the optical sensor array when the optical computer mouse is operated in the barcode reading mode.