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A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (30), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device (10) for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry (12) coupled to an optica

A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells (30), the optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device (10) for tracking motion with respect to a surface (S) and comprising motion sensing circuitry (12) coupled to an optical sensor (15) and at least one light source (14) 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 (30), (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.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells, said optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device for tracking motion with respect to a surface and comprising motion sensing circuitry coupled to an

What is claimed is: 1. A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells, said optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device for tracking motion with respect to a surface and comprising motion sensing circuitry coupled to an optical sensor and at least one light source for illuminating a portion of said surface, the method comprising the steps of: a) monitoring power output of the said one or more battery cells; b) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status; c) upon detection of the said low battery status, switching said 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 by reducing a flash rate at which said optical motion sensing device is activated, thereby degrading the performance of the optical motion sensing device for high speed and/or high acceleration movements. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) includes reducing power output of said light source, thereby degrading the performance of the optical motion sensing device on surfaces having a low reflectivity. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein reducing said flash rate includes one of the following: providing a flash rate control mechanism for adjusting said flash rate through selection of an adjustment parameter and adjusting the said adjustment parameter to lower said flash rate; or reducing a frequency output of a clock circuit used for clocking operations of said optical motion sensing device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) includes switching between a high and a low reporting resolution and/or between a high and a low reporting rate upon detection of the low battery status. 5. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of informing a user of the low battery status and/or of the partial degradation of performance of the optical motion sensing device. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) further includes the switching into low power consumption mode or complete switching off of other components of the pointing device that are not directly used for tracking motion with respect to the surface. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the switching into low power consumption mode or complete switching off of the said other components includes at least one of the following: switching into low power consumption mode of wireless transmission means used for transmitting and/or receiving data to and/or from an external unit; switching into low power consumption mode or complete switching off of circuitry associated with at least one actuator device provided on the pointing device. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said actuator device is a roller or wheel that can be driven into rotation by a finger and wherein the circuitry associated with said roller or wheel includes an optical encoding mechanism. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said optical pointing device is a computer mouse. 10. An optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells, said optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device for tracking motion with respect to a surface and comprising motion sensing circuitry coupled to an optical sensor and at least one light source for illuminating a portion of said surface, wherein said optical pointing device is further provided with battery monitoring means for monitoring power output of the said one or more battery cells and for detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status, said battery monitoring means being adapted to switch the optical pointing device, upon detection of the said low battery status, 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, wherein said optical pointing device further comprises flash rate control means for adjusting a flash rate at which said optical motion sensing device is activated, said flash rate control means reducing said flash rate upon detection of said low battery status by said battery monitoring means, thereby degrading the performance of the optical motion sensing device for high speed and/or high acceleration movements. 11. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, further comprising light source control means for adjusting power output of said light source, said light source control means reducing the power output of the light source upon detection of said low battery status by said battery monitoring means, thereby degrading the performance of the optical motion sensing device on surfaces having a low reflectivity. 12. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, wherein said flash rate control means includes one of the following: means for adjusting an adjustment parameter conditioning said flash rate and wherein, upon detection of said low battery status by said battery monitoring means, said adjustment parameter is adjusted to lower said flash rate; or means for adjusting a frequency output of a clock circuit used for clocking operations of said optical motion sensing device. 13. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, further comprising means for switching between a high and a low reporting resolution and/or between a high and a low reporting rate upon detection of the low battery status. 14. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, further comprising means for performing the switching into low power consumption mode, upon detection of the low battery status, of wireless transmission means used for transmitting and/or receiving data to and/or from an external unit. 15. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, further comprising means for performing the switching into low power consumption mode of or complete switching off, upon detection of the low battery status, of circuitry associated with at least one actuator device provided on the pointing device. 16. The optical pointing device of claim 15, wherein said actuator device is a roller or wheel that can be driven into rotation by a finger and wherein the circuitry associated with said roller or wheel includes an optical encoding mechanism. 17. The optical pointing device according to claim 10, wherein said optical pointing device is a computer mouse. 18. A method for extending battery life in an optical pointing device powered by one or more battery cells, said optical pointing device including an optical motion sensing device for tracking motion with respect to a surface and comprising motion sensing circuitry coupled to an optical sensor and at least one light source for illuminating a portion of said surface, the method comprising the steps of: a) monitoring power output of the said one or more battery cells; b) detecting when the said power output falls below a certain threshold indicative of a low battery status; c) upon detection of the said low battery status, switching said optical pointing device into a low power consumption mode where power consumption of the optical pointing device is reduced and performance of the optical pointing device is partially degraded by reducing a flash rate at which said optical motion sensing device is activated, thereby degrading the performance of the optical motion sensing device for high speed and/or high acceleration movements. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein step c) includes reducing the power consumption and performance of the motion sensing device and/or switching into low power consumption or complete switching off of other components of the pointing device that are not directly used for tracking motion with respect to the surface. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the switching into low power consumption mode or complete switching off of the said other components includes at least one of the following: switching into low power consumption mode of wireless transmission means used for transmitting and/or receiving data to and/or from an external unit; switching into low power consumption mode or complete switching off of circuitry associated with at least one actuator device provided on the pointing device. 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said optical pointing device is a computer mouse.