Lawrence A Bieber from 7517 Gillen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919, age 65, Phone: (719)3601589

Us Patents

Motion Detection Mechanism For Laser Illuminated Optical Mouse Sensor
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US Patent:

7876307, Jan 25, 2011
Filed:

Jun 24, 2005
Appl. No.:

11/165537
Inventors:

Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Michel Willemin - Prêles, CH
Assignee:

EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:

G09G 5/08
US Classification:

345166, 345158
Abstract:

There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector array, the method comprising the steps of illuminating under a determined gradient by means of the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate; detecting by means of the photodetector array speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a first flash; detecting a second speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a second flash; extracting motion features of two different types from the detected first and second speckled light intensity patterns; determining a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated surface portion based on a comparison of motion features extracted; wherein before the step of determining a measurement of the relative motion, the method further comprises the step of keeping only pairs of neighbouring motion features including one motion feature of both different types.

Enhanced Lift Detection Technique For A Laser Illuminated Optical Mouse Sensor
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US Patent:

8013841, Sep 6, 2011
Filed:

Jun 16, 2006
Appl. No.:

11/424747
Inventors:

Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
Assignee:

EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A. - Marin
International Classification:

G09G 5/08
US Classification:

345166, 345156, 345175, 345179, 345158, 178 1809, 178 1905, 250221, 2502081
Abstract:

A method for detecting lift from a surface portion of an optical pointing device comprising a coherent light source, a photodetector device including an array of pixels, and extracting motion features including comparators with an adjustable offset value, the method comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating the surface portion with radiation by the coherent light source; (ii) detecting radiation patterns reflected from the illuminated surface portion with the photodetector device; (iii) comparing light intensity between neighbouring pixels in the detected radiation patterns; (iv) extracting motion features as a function of the result of the comparison; (v) counting the total number of motion features extracted; (vi) increasing or decreasing the comparator offset value when the total number of motion features increases or decreases; (vii) comparing the comparator offset value with an offset threshold; (viii) enabling detection of a lift condition if the comparator offset value is lower than the offset threshold.

Single Fault Laser Driver Control For Optical Mouse
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US Patent:

8294672, Oct 23, 2012
Filed:

Dec 12, 2006
Appl. No.:

11/609609
Inventors:

Sylvain Grosjean - Les Fins, FR
Michel Willemin - Prêles, CH
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Assignee:

EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A. - Marin
International Classification:

G06F 3/033
G09G 5/08
H01S 3/13
H01S 3/00
US Classification:

345166, 372 2901, 372 2902, 372 3809
Abstract:

The invention concerns an optical pointing device comprising a coherent light source for illuminating a surface portion with radiation, a driver of the coherent light source for controlling coherent light emissions, a photodetector device responsive to radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion, processing means for determining, based on the photodetector device response, a measurement of relative motion between the optical pointing device and the illuminated portion of the surface, wherein the coherent light source driver is a fault-tolerant driver comprising redundant power control means for limiting the output power of coherent light emissions.

Optimization Of Statistical Movement Measurement For Optical Mouse, With Particular Application To Laser-Illuminated Surfaces
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US Patent:

8405613, Mar 26, 2013
Filed:

Jun 16, 2006
Appl. No.:

11/424764
Inventors:

Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Michel Willemin - Prêles, CH
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
James Harlod Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
Assignee:

EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:

G06M 7/00
US Classification:

345166, 345175, 345156, 250221, 2505592, 2502081, 250557, 178 1809, 178 1905
Abstract:

A method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector device comprising an array of pixels and comparators for extracting motion features. The method includes the steps (a)-(d). Step (a) includes illuminating with the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate. Step (b) includes detecting, using the array of pixels a speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for each flash. Step (c) includes extracting edge direction data of two different types from the detected speckled light intensity patterns. Step (d) includes measuring relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on extracted edge direction data. The step of extracting edge direction data further includes a preliminary step of introducing a selecting factor, which promotes detection of one type of edge direction data rather than another type.

Method Of Optimization Of Measurement Time For Optical Mouse Sensor
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US Patent:

20070262242, Nov 15, 2007
Filed:

May 15, 2006
Appl. No.:

11/383258
Inventors:

Andre Grandjean - Cressier, CH
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
James Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Assignee:

EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:

H01J 40/14
G01J 1/44
H03F 3/08
US Classification:

25021400R
Abstract:

A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element, said method comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating a surface portion with radiation by means of said light source; (ii) detecting radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion with said at least one photosensitive element; (iii)while said surface portion is being illuminated, integrating an output signal of said at least one photosensitive element over time; (iv)comparing the output signal integration level with a first integration reference level during integration; (v) interrupting said integration step (iii) if said output signal integration level has reached said first integration reference level, or getting back to comparison step (iv) until a first integration period has elapsed if said output signal integration level has not reached said first integration reference level, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (vi) comparing said output signal integration level with a second integration reference level smaller than said first integration reference level, after said first integration period has elapsed; (vii) interrupting said integration step (iii), if said output signal integration level has reached at least said second integration reference level.

Motion Detection Mechanism For Laser Illuminated Optical Mouse Sensor
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US Patent:

20110147571, Jun 23, 2011
Filed:

Dec 17, 2010
Appl. No.:

12/971856
Inventors:

Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Michel Willemin - Preles, CH
Assignee:

EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN SA - Marin
International Classification:

H01J 40/14
US Classification:

250221
Abstract:

A method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector array is described. The method includes illuminating under a determined gradient, using the coherent light source, a surface portion at a determined flash rate; detecting, using the photodetector array, speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated surface portion for a first flash; detecting a second speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated surface portion for a second flash; extracting motion features of two different types from the detected first and second speckled light intensity patterns; determining a measurement of relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated surface portion based on comparison of motion features extracted; wherein the method further comprises a filtering step in order to adjust, and preferably decrease, the number of motion features used in the step of determining a measurement of relative motion.