Optical sensor for pointing device with conical disks and single photodetector

Claim 2

An input device having a movable ball and having two rollers biased against said ball, comprising: a first conical shaped encoder connected to said first roller; a second conical shaped encoder connected to said second roller; a light emitter located adjacent to and directing light at said first and second encoders; and first and second light sensors mounted on a single semiconductor chip, and positioned such that light from said light emitter is directed at and interacts with said first encoder, and is received by first sensor, and directed at and interacting with said second encoder and is received by said second sensor.

Claim 3

The input device of claim 1 wherein said encoders alternately block and let light pass through as they rotate with said respective roller.

Claim 4

The input device of claim 1 wherein said encoders selectively reflect light as they rotate with said respective roller.

Claim 5

The input device of claim 1 wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in a vertical plane tangent to both said conical shaped encoders.

Claim 6

The input device of claim 1 wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in one of a range of positions from horizontally flat to vertical on a printed circuit board (PCB).

Claim 7

The input device of claim 1 wherein said first and second rollers contact said ball at two points 90 degrees apart.

Claim 8

The input device of claim 1 wherein said conical shaped encoders are conical with an angle of 45 degrees from a shaft connecting each to a respective one of said first and second rollers.

Claim 9

The input device of claim 1 further comprising a controller for said input device mounted on said semiconductor chip with said light sensors.

Claim 10

The input device of claim 1 wherein said encoders comprise light modulating structures configured to concentrate light from said light emitter in some areas and remove it from other areas.

Claim 11

The input device of claim 1 wherein said encoders comprise reflective structures configured to selectively reflect light from said light emitter towards said sensors.

Claim 12

The input device of claim 10 wherein said reflective structures are comprised of real mirrors.

Claim 13

The input device of claim 10 wherein said reflective structure's function is achieved using total internal reflection.

Claim 14

The input device of claim 1 wherein said semiconductor chip is mounted on a flexible transparent foil, with the foil having conductive traces on a side having said chip mounted thereon, with light from said light emitter penetrating said foil to contact said light sensors.

Claim 15

The input device of claim 1 further comprising: a third sensor on said semiconductor chip; and a light pipe directing light from another control input to said third sensor.

Claim 16

The input device of claim 14 wherein said third sensor comprises a roller coupled to a third encoder, said light pipe originating on a side of said third encoder opposite a second light source.

Claim 17

The input device of claim 9 wherein said third sensor comprises a switch activatable by a button on said input device.

Claim 18

The input device of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a mouse.

Claim 19

The input device of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a trackball.

Claim 20

An input device having a movable ball and having two rollers biased against said ball, comprising: a first conical shaped encoder connected to said first roller; a second conical shaped encoder connected to said second roller; a light emitter placed to direct light at said first and second encoders; first and second light sensors mounted on a single semiconductor chip located adjacent to said first and second encoders, and positioned such that light from said light emitter is directed at and interacts with said first encoder and is received by said first sensor, and directed at and interacting with said second encoder and is received by said second sensor; wherein said encoders alternately block and let light pass through as they rotate with said respective roller; wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in a vertical plane tangent to both said conical shaped encoders; wherein said first and second rollers contact said ball at two points 90 degrees apart; and wherein said conical shaped encoders are conical with an angle of 45 degrees from a shaft connecting each to a respective one of said first and second rollers.

Claim 21

An input device having a movable ball and having two rollers biased against said ball, comprising: a first conical shaped encoder connected to said first roller; a second conical shaped encoder connected to said second roller; a light emitter placed to direct light at said first and second encoders; first and second light sensors mounted on a single semiconductor chip located adjacent to said first and second encoders, and positioned such that light from said light emitter is directed at and interacts with said first encoder and is received by said first sensor, and directed at and interacting with said second encoder and is received by said second sensor; wherein said encoders alternately block and let light pass through as they rotate with said respective roller; wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in a vertical plane tangent to both said conical shaped encoders; wherein said first and second rollers contact said ball at two points 90 degrees apart; and wherein said conical shaped encoders are conical with an angle of 45 degrees from a shaft connecting each to a respective one of said first and second rollers.

Claim 22

An input device having a movable ball and having two rollers biased against said ball, comprising: a first conical shaped encoder connected to said first roller; a second conical shaped encoder connected to said second roller; a light emitter placed to direct light at said first and second encoders; first and second light sensors mounted on a single semiconductor chip located adjacent to said first and second encoders, and positioned such that light from said light emitter is directed at and interacts with said first encoder and is received by said first sensor, and directed at and interacting with said second encoder and is received by said second sensor; wherein said encoders comprise reflective structures configured to selectively reflect light from said light emitter towards said sensors; wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in a position ranging from horizontally flat to a vertical plane tangent to both said conical shaped encoders, at an angle in said range relative to said reflected light; wherein said first and second rollers contact said ball at two points 90 degrees apart; and wherein said conical shaped encoders are conical with an angle of 45 degrees from a shaft connecting each to a respective one of said first and second rollers.

Claim 23

An input device having a movable ball and having two rollers biased against said ball, comprising: a first conical shaped encoder connected to said first roller; a second conical shaped encoder connected to said second roller; a light emitter placed to direct light at said first and second encoders; first and second light sensors mounted on a single semiconductor chip located adjacent to said first and second encoders, and positioned such that light from said light emitter is directed at and interacts with said first encoder and is received by said first sensor, and directed at and interacting with said second encoder and is received by said second sensor; wherein said encoders comprise reflective structures configured to selectively reflect light from said light emitter towards said sensors; wherein said single semiconductor chip is mounted in a position ranging from horizontally flat to a vertical plane tangent to both said conical shaped encoders, at an angle in said range relative to said reflected light; wherein said first and second rollers contact said ball at two points 90 degrees apart; and wherein said conical shaped encoders are conical with an angle of 45 degrees from a shaft connecting each to a respective one of said first and second rollers.

Claim 24

The input device of claim 19 or 20 further comprising first and second springs biasing said rollers against said movable ball.