Low power optical mouse

Abstract

A wireless optical mouse comprises an optical movement detection module, a movement detection module, and a control module. The optical movement detection module emits light to detect movement of the wireless optical mouse. The movement detection module has a lower accuracy and consumes less power than the optical movement detection module when detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse. The control module selectively stops detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module. After the movement detection module detects movement, the control module restarts detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module.

1 . A wireless optical mouse comprising:
 an optical movement detection module that emits light to detect movement of the wireless optical mouse;   a movement detection module that has a lower accuracy and consumes less power than the optical movement detection module when detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse; and   a control module that selectively stops detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module and wherein after the movement detection module detects movement, the control module restarts detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module.   
   
   
       2 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface that detects user input, wherein the control module restarts detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module after the user interface detects user input. 
   
   
       3 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 2  wherein the control module stops detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module after a predetermined period during which the user interface does not detect user input and the optical movement detection module does not detect movement. 
   
   
       4 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 1  wherein the optical movement detection module is powered down after the control module stops detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module. 
   
   
       5 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 2  wherein the optical movement detection module:
 detects movement of the wireless optical mouse with lower accuracy when in a low-power active state and   enters the low-power active state after a second predetermined period during which at least two of: the user interface does not detect user input, the optical movement detection module does not detect movement, and the movement detection module does not detect movement,   wherein the second predetermined period is shorter than the predetermined period.   
   
   
       6 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 1  wherein the movement detection module comprises:
 a ball assembly including a ball; and   a sensor module that detects movement of the wireless optical mouse based upon movement of the ball.   
   
   
       7 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 6  wherein the ball assembly includes a first roller that rotates about a first axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball. 
   
   
       8 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 7  wherein the ball assembly includes a second roller that rotates about a second axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball, wherein the first and second axes are generally orthogonal. 
   
   
       9 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 6  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a Hall effect sensor. 
   
   
       10 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 6  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a current sensor. 
   
   
       11 . A wireless optical mouse comprising:
 an optical movement detection module that emits light to detect movement of the wireless optical mouse;   a movement detection module that has a lower accuracy and consumes less power than the optical movement detection module when detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse; and   a control module that selectively powers down the optical movement detection module and wherein after the movement detection module detects movement, the control module powers up the optical movement detection module.   
   
   
       12 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 11  further comprising a user interface that detects user input, wherein the control module powers up the optical movement detection module after the user interface detects user input. 
   
   
       13 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 12  wherein the control module powers down the optical movement detection module after a predetermined period during which the user interface does not detect user input and the optical movement detection module does not detect movement. 
   
   
       14 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 12  wherein the user interface comprises at least one button. 
   
   
       15 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 12  wherein the optical movement detection module:
 detects movement of the wireless optical mouse with lower accuracy when in a low-power active state and   enters the low-power active state after a second predetermined period during which at least two of: the user interface does not detect user input, the optical movement detection module does not detect movement, and the movement detection module does not detect movement,   wherein the second predetermined period is shorter than the predetermined period.   
   
   
       16 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 11  wherein the movement detection module comprises:
 a ball assembly including a ball; and   a sensor module that detects movement of the wireless optical mouse based upon movement of the ball.   
   
   
       17 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 16  wherein the ball assembly includes a first roller that rotates about a first axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball. 
   
   
       18 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 17  wherein the ball assembly includes a second roller that rotates about a second axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball, wherein the first and second axes are generally orthogonal. 
   
   
       19 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 16  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a Hall effect sensor. 
   
   
       20 . The wireless optical mouse of  claim 16  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a current sensor. 
   
   
       21 . A method comprising:
 using an optical movement detection module that emits light to detect movement of the wireless optical mouse;   using a movement detection module that has a lower accuracy and consumes less power than the optical movement detection module when detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse;   selectively stopping detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module; and   restarting detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module after the movement detection module detects movement.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 detecting user input; and   restarting detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module after user input is detected.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising stopping detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module after a predetermined period during which user input is not detected and the optical movement detection module does not detect movement. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising powering down the optical movement detection module after stopping detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse using the optical movement detection module. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the optical movement detection module:
 detects movement of the wireless optical mouse with lower accuracy when in a low-power active state and   enters the low-power active state after a second predetermined period during which at least two of: user input is not detected, the optical movement detection module does not detect movement, and the movement detection module does not detect movement,   wherein the second predetermined period is shorter than the predetermined period.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the movement detection module comprises:
 a ball assembly including a ball; and   a sensor module that detects movement of the wireless optical mouse based upon movement of the ball.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the ball assembly includes a first roller that rotates about a first axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the ball assembly includes a second roller that rotates about a second axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball, wherein the first and second axes are generally orthogonal. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a Hall effect sensor. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a current sensor. 
   
   
       31 . A method comprising:
 using an optical movement detection module that emits light to detect movement of the wireless optical mouse;   using a movement detection module that has a lower accuracy and consumes less power than the optical movement detection module when detecting movement of the wireless optical mouse;   selectively powering down the optical movement detection module; and   powering up the optical movement detection module after the movement detection module detects movement.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 detecting user input; and   powering up the optical movement detection module after user input is detected.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising powering down the optical movement detection module after a predetermined period during which user input is not detected and the optical movement detection module does not detect movement. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the optical movement detection module:
 detects movement of the wireless optical mouse with lower accuracy when in a low-power active state and   enters the low-power active state after a second predetermined period during which at least two of: user input is not detected, the optical movement detection module does not detect movement, and the movement detection module does not detect movement,   wherein the second predetermined period is shorter than the predetermined period.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the movement detection module comprises:
 a ball assembly including a ball; and   a sensor module that detects movement of the wireless optical mouse based upon movement of the ball.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the ball assembly includes a first roller that rotates about a first axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the ball assembly includes a second roller that rotates about a second axis and is rotationally coupled to the ball, wherein the first and second axes are generally orthogonal. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a Hall effect sensor. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the ball assembly includes a disk including a magnet and wherein the sensor module includes a current sensor.