CN103425275A - Sensing module with power saving function applied to optical mouse and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A sensing module with power saving function for optical mouse includes light source, first sensor, first detecting unit, second sensor, second detecting unit and controller. Wherein the light source provides a light; the first sensor responds to at least part of light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface so as to generate a first sensing signal; the first detection unit responds to the first sensing signal to generate a displacement signal; the second sensor responds to at least part of the light to detect a second image corresponding to an object so as to generate a second sensing signal; the second detection unit responds to the second sensing signal to generate a touch signal corresponding to the object; the control unit responds to the touch signal to output a control signal, so that the first detection unit responds to the control signal to operate in a sleep state or a sensing state. The invention also provides a sensing method with a power-saving function applied to the optical mouse.

Description

Sensing module with power saving function applied to optical mouse and method thereof

technical field

The invention relates to a sensing module with a power saving function, in particular to a sensing module capable of sensing a touch signal to determine whether to enter the power saving function and a method thereof.

Background technique

Computers play an increasingly important and diverse role in today's human life, from being used as a tool for word processing or program computing in the past to today's complex audio-visual video and video game entertainment. The mouse, which is responsible for controlling the interface, has also been gradually updated and improved with the enhancement of computer functions. Its sensing technology has gone from using traditional rolling balls, pulleys and light-emitting diode components to further using laser components that generate coherent light. Therefore, the function of the mouse has gradually expanded from simple cursor control to various additional functions such as screen zooming and fingerprint recognition, allowing users to more easily control the computer.

Optical mouse is the mainstream of mouse at present. All types of optical mouse are divided into wired, wireless, multi-function keys or single keys, etc., and the power consumption of each is different. The optical mouse uses an internal battery to provide the power required for its operation. Since the power of the battery is extremely limited, it usually has the function of a power saving mode.

In an optical mouse, the image sensor is usually used to sense the displacement signal. Therefore, when the sensor does not sense the displacement signal or the image difference detected by the image sensor is less than a certain threshold, the mouse will Enter power saving mode.

However, when the sensed image noise is too large, the displacement signal sensed by the image sensor will be inaccurate. , and cannot enter power saving mode.

In addition, when the mouse enters the power saving mode, it usually takes a period of time to confirm that the user is not using it. Therefore, the image sensor will continue to detect the displacement signal during this period of time and continue to consume power. Therefore, if the power consumption can be reduced for a period of time, it will Can improve the effect of power saving. On the other hand, the mouse also needs a longer exposure time in the power saving mode, which further increases the power consumption.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sensing module and sensing method with power saving function applied to an optical mouse.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sensor module with power saving function, which is applied to an optical mouse with an upper surface and a lower surface. The optical mouse has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the mouse operates on a working surface. , while the lower surface of the optical mouse is opposite to the working surface. The sensing module includes a light source, a first sensor, a first detection unit, a second sensor, a second detection unit and a controller. The light source is used to provide a light; the first sensor responds to at least part of the light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface to generate a first sensing signal; the first detection unit is used to respond to the first sensing detection signal to generate a displacement signal; the second sensor is used to respond to at least part of the light to detect a second image corresponding to an object to generate a second sensing signal; the second detection unit is used to respond to the second sensing signal to generate a touch signal corresponding to the object; the control unit is used to respond to the touch signal of the second detection unit to output a control signal, so that the first detection unit responds to the control signal and operates in a sleep state or a sensing state.

The sensing module above, wherein the object operates on the upper surface of the optical mouse.

In the above sensing module, the light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode.

In the above sensing module, the first sensor and/or the second sensor is an image sensor.

In the above-mentioned sensing module, the object is a user's finger.

The above-mentioned sensing module further includes a light source controller for periodically controlling the light source to be turned on or off.

In the above sensing module, the first detection unit generates the displacement signal according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal.

In the above sensing module, the first detection unit generates the displacement signal according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal.

In the above sensing module, the second detection unit generates the touch signal according to a brightness change value of the second sensing signal.

In the above sensing module, the brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

In the above sensing module, the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

In order to better achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a sensing method with power-saving function applied to an optical mouse, the method includes the following steps: periodically turn on or off a light source, so that the light source generates a light ; Respond to at least part of the light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface to generate a first sensing signal; Respond to the first sensing signal to generate a displacement signal; Respond to at least part of the light to detect a corresponding to a A second image of the object to generate a second sensing signal; responding to the second sensing signal to generate a touch signal corresponding to the object; responding to the touch signal to output a control signal to enable or disable generation of displacement Signal steps.

In the above sensing method, wherein the displacement signal is generated according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal.

In the above sensing method, wherein the displacement signal is generated according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal.

In the above sensing method, the touch signal is generated according to a brightness change value of the second sensing signal.

In the above sensing method, the brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

In the above sensing method, the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

The technical effect of the present invention is: the sensing module in the mouse of the prior art uses the way of detecting the displacement signal to determine whether to enter the power-saving mode, so the detection unit must still be kept in operation to detect whether there is a displacement signal in the power-saving state produce. The present invention uses the method of detecting the touch of an object (or a finger), so that the power supply required for maintaining the detection displacement signal is unnecessary in the power saving state, and further reduces the power consumption in the power saving state.

The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but not as a limitation of the present invention.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a sensor module with power saving function disclosed by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the sensing method with power saving function disclosed in the present invention.

Among them, reference signs

10 light sources

11 first sensor

12 first detection unit

13Second sensor

14 Second detection unit

15 controllers

16 light source controller

Detailed ways

Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, structural principle and working principle of the present invention are specifically described:

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail below in the embodiments, which are sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and according to the disclosed content, claims and drawings of this specification, this The related objects and advantages of the present invention can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples further illustrate the concept of the present invention in detail, but do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a system block diagram of a sensor module with power saving function applied to an optical mouse. The sensing module includes a light source 10 , a first sensor 11 , a first detection unit 12 , a second sensor 13 , a second detection unit 14 and a controller 15 .

The light source 10 is used to provide a light, respectively provided to the first sensor 11 and the second sensor 13 for sensing. When applied to an optical mouse, the light source 10 is usually a point light source, and a light emitting diode or a laser diode may be used in general embodiments. In another embodiment, the sensing module further includes a light source controller 16 for periodically controlling the light source 10 to be turned on or off.

A general optical mouse can be defined as having an upper surface and a lower surface. Generally, the optical mouse operates on a working surface, and the lower surface of the optical mouse is opposite to the working surface. The upper surface of the optical mouse is usually the operating surface of the object, so the object is usually operated on the upper surface of the optical mouse.

The first sensor 11 is used for detecting a first image corresponding to a working surface in response to at least part of the light provided by the light source 10 to generate a first sensing signal. A first detection unit 12 is connected to the first sensor 11 for generating a displacement signal in response to the first sensing signal generated by the first sensor 11 . In one embodiment, the first sensor 11 is an image sensor, such as a CMOS image sensor. This displacement signal will be used to correspond to the displacement of the mouse pointer.

The second sensor 13 responds to at least part of the light provided by the light source 10 to detect a second image corresponding to an object to generate a second sensing signal. The second detection unit 14 is connected to the second sensor 13 and responds to the second sensing signal generated by the second sensor 13 to generate a touch signal corresponding to the object. The touch signal will be used to make the first sensor 11 and the first detection unit 12 enter the operating state or the power saving state. In one embodiment, the second sensor 13 is an image sensor, such as a CMOS image sensor. Furthermore, the object to be detected by the second sensor 13 is the state of the user touching the mouse. That is to say, the reflected light detected by the second sensor 13 is the reflected light reflected from the user, for example, the light reflected from the palm part or finger part of the user controlling the mouse, whereby the second sensor 13 can obtain Image information sufficient to determine whether the user touches the mouse.

It is also worth noting that the first sensor 11 and the second sensor 13 can be placed in accordance with the design of the internal structure of the optical mouse, and then through appropriate optical mechanisms, such as the design of lenses and/or light guides, will work The light reflected by the surface and the user is guided to the first sensor 11 and the second sensor 13 respectively.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first detection unit 12 generates a displacement signal according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first detection unit 12 generates a displacement signal according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second detection unit 14 generates a touch signal according to a brightness change value of the second sensing signal. That is, the light source is periodically turned on or off to detect the brightness change of the finger contact to determine whether there is a touch, so the brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off. In an embodiment of the present invention, the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off. In other words, when the light source is turned on, if the finger also touches the mouse, the second sensor 13 can detect the reflected light from the finger and generate a second sensing signal; when the light source is turned on, if the finger does not touch the mouse mouse, the second sensor 13 will not detect the reflected light.

The controller 15 responds to the touch signal of the second detection unit 14 to output a control signal, so that the first detection unit 12 operates in a sleep state or a sensing state in response to the control signal.

That is, when a touch signal is detected, the detection and calculation of the displacement signal is performed. When no touch signal is detected, it enters a dormant state and does not execute the calculation of the motion vector. Of course, when applied to a mouse, the control signal generated by the controller 15 can also be used, so that the entire system responds to the control signal to enter a sleep state or a sensing state.

In a general computer system, the system standby state is to turn off the power of the monitor and the hard disk, but neither shut down nor store the data in the memory to the hard disk. When the user presses any key, it will return to the state before the standby. The system hibernation state is to store the data in the memory to the hard disk, then shut down and turn off the power, and then read the data from the hard disk to return to the state before hibernation after restarting the system. However, in general mice, such a distinction is not particularly made. The sleep state here can also be a standby state, which refers to turning off the power supply of most modules, and only supplying power to the components required to maintain the sensing, so as to save power, which is also generally called a power saving state. Of course the sensing state refers to the general normal operating state.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a flowchart of a sensing method with power saving function applied to an optical mouse disclosed in the present invention.

Firstly, a light source is turned on or off periodically to make the light source generate a light (step 20 ). Then respond to at least part of the light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface to generate a first sensing signal (step 21 ). Then respond to the first sensing signal to generate a displacement signal (step 22 ).

Then respond to at least part of the light to detect a second image corresponding to an object to generate a second sensing signal (step 23 ). Then respond to the second sensing signal to generate a touch signal corresponding to the presence or absence of the object (step 24 ); the external object is usually the user's finger. Of course, it can be replaced by a similar operating object, such as a stylus, as long as the second sensor can sense the operation of the object, it can be used.

Finally, a control signal is output in response to the touch signal, so as to enable or disable the step of generating the displacement signal (step 25 ).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first detection unit 12 generates a displacement signal according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first detection unit 12 generates a displacement signal according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal. The brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source 10 is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off. In an embodiment of the present invention, the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

Although the above-mentioned embodiments point out that the present invention can be applied to an optical mouse, it is not limited to this in fact, and the sensing module disclosed in the present invention can be applied to peripheral control devices with mouse-like functions, so as long as it is used to control The sensing module disclosed in the present invention can be applied to peripheral devices for the operation of the fluorescent screen cursor.

The sensing module with power saving function and sensing method thereof of the present invention uses another sensor to detect whether an external object touches the mouse to determine whether to output a displacement signal or enter a power saving state, instead of using the original displacement detection The signal is used to determine whether to enter the power saving state. The technical means disclosed in the invention solves the problem that the prior art cannot further improve the power saving effect.

Certainly, the present invention also can have other multiple embodiments, without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and deformations according to the present invention, but these corresponding Changes and deformations should belong to the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. A sensing module with a power-saving function applied to an optical mouse, the optical mouse has an upper surface and a lower surface, and is characterized in that it includes: a light source, providing a light; A first sensor responds to at least part of the light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface on which the optical mouse is operated, and the optical mouse's the lower surface is opposite to the working surface; a first detection unit, responding to the first sensing signal to generate a displacement signal; A second sensor responds to at least part of the light to detect a second image corresponding to an object to generate a second sensing signal; a second detection unit, responding to the second sensing signal to generate a touch signal corresponding to the object; and A control unit outputs a control signal in response to the touch signal of the second detection unit, so that the first detection unit operates in a sleep state or a sensing state in response to the control signal. 2. The sensing module of claim 1, wherein the object operates on the upper surface of the optical mouse. 3. The sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode. 4. The sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and/or the second sensor is an image sensor. 5. The sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is a user's finger. 6. The sensing module according to claim 1, further comprising a light source controller for periodically controlling the light source to be turned on or off. 7. The sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the first detection unit generates the displacement signal according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal. 8. The sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the first detection unit generates the displacement signal according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal. 9. The sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the second detection unit generates the touch signal according to a brightness change value of the second sensing signal. 10 . The sensing module according to claim 9 , wherein the brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off. 11 . 11. The sensing module according to claim 9, wherein the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off. 12. A sensing method with a power-saving function applied to an optical mouse, characterized in that the method comprises: periodically turning on or off a light source so that the light source generates a light; Responding to at least part of the light to detect a first image corresponding to a working surface to generate a first sensing signal; generating a displacement signal in response to the first sensing signal; Responding to at least part of the light to detect a second image corresponding to an object to generate a second sensing signal; generating a touch signal corresponding to the object in response to the second sensing signal; and Outputting a control signal in response to the touch signal, so as to enable or disable the step of generating the displacement signal. 13. The sensing method according to claim 12, wherein the displacement signal is generated according to a characteristic value of the first sensing signal. 14. The sensing method according to claim 12, wherein the displacement signal is generated according to a brightness change value of the first sensing signal. 15. The sensing method according to claim 12, wherein the touch signal is generated according to a brightness change value of the second sensing signal. 16. The sensing method according to claim 15, wherein the brightness change value is related to a brightness value when the light source is turned on and/or a brightness value when the light source is turned off. 17. The sensing method according to claim 15, wherein the brightness change value is a difference between a brightness value when the light source is turned on and a brightness value when the light source is turned off.

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