The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 13, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2004
Michel Willemin, Lignières, CH;
André Grandjean, Cressier, CH;
Marc Degrauwe, Chez-le-Bart, CH;
James Harold Lauffenburger, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Michel Willemin, Lignières, CH;
André Grandjean, Cressier, CH;
Marc Degrauwe, Chez-le-Bart, CH;
James Harold Lauffenburger, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA, Marin, CH;
Abstract
A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device () for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry () coupled to an optical sensor () and at least one light source () for illuminating a portion of the surface. The method comprises the steps of (i) monitoring the power output of the said one or more battery cells (), (ii) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status (EOL) and (iii) upon detection of the low battery status, switching the optical pointing device into a low power consumption mode where power consumption of the optical pointing device is reduced and performance of the optical motion sensing device is partially degraded. An optical pointing device implementing this method.