Self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors can be used for generation of content using an input device without requiring a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, the SMI sensors can be used to detect characteristics of the input device including position, orientation, and/or motion of the input device and/or force applied by the input device (e.g., force applied by a stylus tip). In some examples, some or all of the characteristics of the input device can be used in processing to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the generation of content can use information from one or more additional sensors for the input device and/or from additional devices in combination with the characteristics of the input device based on the SMI sensors for generation of content.

An optical navigation device, comprising: an optical sensor, configured to sense optical data; and a processing circuit, configured to compute motions of the optical navigation device based on the optical data, and configured to output the motions, wherein a first CPI is set to the processing circuit. The processing circuit receives a calibration command to calibrate the first CPI to a second CPI, wherein the second CPI is computed via following steps: (a) computing a real CPI corresponding to times of motions output by the processing circuit during a time interval that a relative displacement between the optical navigation device and a surface reaches a first predetermined distance; (b) computing a ratio between the real CPI and the first CPI or a difference between the real CPI and the first CPI; and (c) generating the second CPI based on the ratio or the difference.

A function parameter switching memory circuit for a peripheral device is provided. The peripheral device includes a function parameter switching memory circuit, a power management device and an optical sensor. The function parameter switching memory circuit includes a function parameter switching key and a simulation control circuit. The function parameter switching key generates and outputs a physical switch signal in response to a switching trigger action of a user. The simulation control circuit generates a virtual switch signal to the optical sensor. The simulation control circuit analyzes the physical switch signal to memorize a switched-and-set function parameter storage value. The simulation control circuit generates the virtual switch signal according to one of the physical switch signal and the switched-and-set function parameter storage value. The optical sensor performs a function parameter switching process according to the virtual switch signal.

A writing system that includes a reusable notebook including a sheet having a working surface. The working surface includes a printed code and an operative control. The writing system includes a writing instrument configured to capture images of the printed code and a computing device configured to communicate with the reusable notebook and/or the writing instrument. The sheet includes a surface coating over the working surface configured so that a writing material of the writing instrument can be removed by applying a dry ancillary device.

Aiming to facilitate further improvement of usability. An information processing apparatus (10) according to an embodiment includes: a calculation unit (1122) that calculates a score indicating a characteristic of a target object; and a presentation control unit (1123) that performs processing for displaying visualized information for the target object based on height information corresponding to the score calculated by the calculation unit (1122).

A computer peripheral device (e.g., a computer mouse) includes an optical sensor configured to generate optical data corresponding to a surface that the computer peripheral device is placed upon and a processor(s) configured to determine, based on the optical data, a relative displacement of the computer peripheral device along the surface, identify one or more characteristics of the surface based on the optical data; compare the one or more characteristics with one or more corresponding baseline characteristics stored in memory; classify, based on the comparing of the one or more characteristics with one or more corresponding baseline characteristics, a type of the surface; and adjust, based on the classified type of the surface, an aspect of the determination of the relative displacement of the peripheral device or an operation of the optical sensor that alters the generating of the optical data.

The invention concerns device for a digital writing instrument the device comprising a substrate with a transparent or translucent layer and a pattern layer on the transparent layer. The pattern comprising an active area made with photoluminescent material and an inactive area made with non photoluminescent material. The photoluminescent material comprises a successive alternate of a first layer and a second layer generating photoluminescent structure at the interface of said first layer and said second layer, the pattern layer comprises a series of N points distributed in a plan (X,Y), either said N-points define the active area whereas the inactive area is defined by the area between said N points. The N-points defines the inactive area whereas the active area is defined by the area between said N points. The invention also relates to a method for determining a position, a method for manufacturing, a system and a stylus.

An electronic erasing device includes a casing, an erasing portion slidably attached to the casing and having a bottom surface and a side surface that extends from an outer edge of the bottom surface, both the bottom surface and at least a part of the side surface protruding from an end of the casing, and a position indicator including a core body and a pressure detector that detects a pressure applied to the core body, the position indicator outputting a position indication signal indicating an erasure position indicated by the core body and information indicating the pressure. The position indicator is included in the erasing portion and fixed inside the casing such that a tip portion of the core body is positioned away from an outer side of the bottom surface of the erasing portion and the applied pressure is transmitted to the core body.

An optical navigation device includes a casing, a circuit board, an illumination light source and an optical receiver. The casing is movably located above a navigation surface. The circuit board is disposed inside the casing. The illumination light source is disposed on the circuit board and adapted to provide an illumination channel toward the navigation surface. The optical receiver is disposed adjacent to the illumination light source. An imaging channel of the optical receiver is substantially parallel to a planar normal vector of the navigation surface, and the optical receiver is adapted to identify features on the navigation surface within a range crossed by the imaging channel and the illumination channel for providing navigation information.

Various implementations of the invention comprise a surface or film having a plurality of three-dimensional structures embodied on or within the surface or film, each of the three-dimensional structures having a reflecting surface configured to retro-reflect radiation from a radiation source back to a detector located at the radiation source.