Patent Application
20090189859
This invention relates generally to an input device for a computer, and relates more particularly to a computer mouse and methods of manufacturing the same,
Most laptops or portable computers have a touchpad, a pointing stick, and/or a computer mouse integrated with or around the keyboard. However, many people prefer to use a computer input device that is not integrally attached to the portable computer. Unfortunately, small, portable computer input devices are easily and often lost, forgotten, stolen, or damaged when a person moves the portable computer and the computer input device between locations.
Accordingly, a need exists for a computer input device that is portable and designed to help a user easily and securely transport the computer input device.
To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the following drawings are provided in which.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are Interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, hut may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “on,” as used herein, is defined as on, at, or otherwise adjacent to or next to or over.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically and/or mechanically, either directly or indirectly through intervening circuitry and/or elements. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, either direct or indirectly, but not be mechanically coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, either direct or indirectly, but not be electrically coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, directly or indirectly, but not he electrically coupled. Coupling (whether only mechanical, only electrical, or both) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
“Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electrical signals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types.
The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable. For example, the recitation of a clip being coupled to an outer casing does not mean that the clip cannot be removed (readily or otherwise) from, or that it is permanently connected to, the outer casing.
In a number of embodiments, a computer input device includes: (a) an outer casing having: (1) a first surface; (2) a second surface; and (3) a cavity between the first surface and the second surface; (b) at least one button at the first surface; (c) a mechanism configured to detect movement of the outer casing and located at the second surface; and (d) a clip. In these embodiments., the mechanism and the at least one button are at least partially located within the cavity.
In other embodiments, a computer mouse includes: (a) one or more buttons; (b) a movement sensing mechanism; and (c) a structure having: (1) a body defining an interior space; (2) a segment coupled to the body; and (3) an extension spaced apart from the body and coupled to the segment. The body and the segment define therebetween a first channel. In these embodiments, at least a portion of the one or more buttons and at least a portion of the movement sensing mechanism are in the interior space of the body.
In further embodiments, a computer mouse includes a housing having a clip, and two or more user input mechanisms located at least partially within the housing.
In yet another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a computer input device includes: (a) providing at least one button; (b) providing an outer casing; (c) providing a mechanism configured to detect movement of the outer casing; (d) at least partially enclosing the at least one button and the mechanism in the outer casing; and (e) integrally coupling a clip to the outer casing.
Turning to the drawings,
Referring to
Referring to
Clip 120 can be used to connect computer input device 100 to another object. For example, clip 120 can be used to couple computer input device 100 to a computer bag or backpack by sliding part of the computer bag or backpack between main portion 121 and tail portion 123. In another embodiments, computer input device 100 can be coupled to a pocket on a user's shirt or pants by sliding a portion of the pocket between main portion 121 and tail portion 123. By coupling clip 120 to a computer bag, backpack, pocket, belt, or another object, computer input device 100 can be securely transported between locations and decrease the likelihood that a user will lose, forgot, damage, or have stolen computer input device 100.
In numerous examples, main portion 121 can include: (a) a proximal end 161 adjacent to tail portion 123; (b) a distal end 162 opposite proximal end 161; and (c) a protrusion or bump 124 at or near distal end 162.
In the same of different examples, tail portion 123 can include: (a) a proximal end 163 adjacent to main portion 121; (b) a distal end 164 opposite proximal end 163; and (c) a protrusion or bump 125 at or near distal end 164. In some embodiments, proximal end 163 is adjacent to proximal end 161.
In some examples, tail portion 123 is biased towards and in contact with main portion 121 such that a channel or space can be created between tail portion 123 and main portion 121 by moving distal end 164 away from main portion 121. For example, bump 124 can be in contact with bump 125 and a space can be created between bump 124 and bump 125 by moving distal end 164 away from distal end 162.
Tail portion 123 can be configured such that bump 125 is in contact with bump 124 unless distal end 164 is moved away from main portion 121. That is, when bumps 124 and 125 are moved apart, an object can be inserted between main portion 121 and tail portion 123. In the same embodiments, a gap 165 can exist between parts of tail portion 123 and parts of main portion 121 when bump 124 is in contact with bump 125.
In alternative embodiments, distal end 162 of main portion 121 can be in contact with distal end 164 of tail portion 123. In still further embodiments, main portion 121 and tail portion 123 are not in contact with each other. Tail portion 123 can be biased towards main portion 121 in any of these embodiments. In the same or different embodiments, main portion 121 can be biased towards tail portion 123.
In the same or different examples, outer casing 110 and clip 120 can be considered to include: (a) body 190 defining an interior space; (b) a segment 191 coupled to body; and (c) an extension 192 spaced apart from body and coupled to segment 191. Body 190 and extension 192 can define therebetween a channel 193 at an exterior of body 190. In some examples, at least one of first segment and extension are flexible. Other features of computer input device 100 in
Referring to
In various embodiments, movement mechanism 303 is a mechanism configured to detect movement of outer casing. In the same or different embodiments, at least a portion of buttons 302, at least a portion of movement mechanism 303, and at least a portion of scrolling mechanism 404 can be enclosed or located in cavity 311. Movement mechanism 303, buttons 302, and scrolling mechanism 404 are user input mechanisms.
In the embodiment shown in
In the example illustrated in
Outer casing 110 can be configured to removably enclose portable power source 390 in cavity 311. In some embodiments, clip 120 is removably coupled outer casing 110, and computer input device 100 is configured such that portable power source 390 can be placed inside of cavity 311 and coupled to power source coupling mechanism 360 when clip 120 is uncoupled from outer casing 110. In alternative examples, portable power source 390 can be placed in cavity 311 through other openings in outer casing 110. For example, in a different embodiment, the top half of outer casing 110 can be removed to provide access to power source coupling mechanism.
Portable power source 390 can be a removable, disposable, or rechargeable battery in some examples. In one embodiment, portable power source 390 can be charged using connectors 361 when computer input device 100 is not use. In an alternative example, connectors 361 can be connectors capable of being coupled to an electrical outlet or computer when computer input device 100 is not in use For example, portable power source 390 can be recharged while remaining within cavity 311 using inductive or capacitive power transfer technology.
Referring to
In some embodiments, outer easing 110 is configured to allow storage of transmitter/receiver 455 inside of cavity 311. For example, outer casing 110 can have a compartment 356 configured to hold transmitter/receiver 455. In some examples, compartment 356 can be accessed through an opening 364 in outer casing 110. Opening 364 can have a cover 366.
In the illustrated embodiment, compartment 356 is located in the front portion of cavity 311, and power source coupling mechanism 360 is located in the rear portion of cavity 311. In other embodiment, compartment 356 can be located in the rear portion of cavity 311, and power source coupling mechanism 360 can be located in the front portion of cavity 311. In yet further examples, both the power source coupling mechanism 360 and compartment 356 can be located in the front, middle, or rear portion of cavity 311.
In other embodiments, computer input device 100 can be configured to be coupled to a computer using a cable, instead of or in addition to transmitters/receivers 408 and 455. Additionally, computer input device could receive power through the cable coupled to the computer and power source coupling mechanism 360 and portable power source 390 could be eliminated.
Referring again to
In this embodiment, lens frame 435 can be coupled to outer casing 110. In one example. Lens frame 435 can be coupled to outer casing 110 by screwing one or more screws 437 through lens frame 435 into screw receptacles 438.
In some embodiments, circuit board 330 can be coupled to outer casing 110. In one example, circuit board 330 is coupled to outer casing 110 by screwing screws 467 through circuit board 330 into screw receptacles 438.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring again to
In numerous examples, sensor region 427 is adjacent to an inner surface of a portion 271 (
Sensor region 427 can register the movement of the user's finger on portion 271, and the electronics in circuit board region 426 can convert the movement detected in sensor region 427 into an electrical signal that can be communicated to operations module 424 through wires in wire ribbon region 428. The wires in wire ribbon region 428 can be coupled to operations module 424. Operations module 424 is configured to transfer the movement measured by touchpad module 421 to a computer through transmitters/receivers 408 and 455.
Buttons 302 include right button 458 and a left button 459. End 451 of button 458 can be adjacent to a click module 456. Likewise, end 452 of button 459 can be adjacent to a click module 457. In other embodiments, buttons 302 could include one button, or three or more buttons. In some examples, the number of buttons depends on the needs of the user and/or on the type of computer coupled to computer input device 100.
In many embodiments, buttons 458 and 459 can each include: (a) a button region 481; and (b) a coupling region 482. When a user presses down on button 458 or 459 through portion 218, button region 481 of the respective, one of buttons 458 and 459 are depressed. Depressing button region 481 of buttons 458 or 459 will activate click module 456 or 457, respectively, and register the user action. The user action is converted into an electrical signal by click module 456 or 457 and communicated to a computer through transmitters/receivers 408 and 455.
In several embodiments, buttons 302 can be coupled to outer casing 110 with screws 461. Screws 461 can be screwed through holes in coupling regions 482 into screw receptacles (not shown) in outer casing 110.
In non-illustrated embodiments, buttons 302 can form a portion of exterior 105 of computer input device 100. That is, a portion of buttons 302 can be located outside of cavity 311.
Turning to another embodiment,
Computer input device 500 can be coupled to a computer using a connector 572, and a cable 573 can be used to transmit electrical signals from computer input device 500 to an electrical device (e.g. a computer). In this example, computer input device 500 does not include transmitters/receivers 408 and 455 (
In some examples, connector 572 can be a standard connector, such as an RS-232C (recommend standard 232C) connector, a PS/2 (personal system/2) connector, an ADB (Apple® desktop bus) connector, or a USB (universal serial bus) connector.
Flow chart 600 of
Subsequently, flow chart 600 of FIG, 6 includes a step 620 of providing an outer casing including a clip. As an example, outer casing 110 can be identical to or similar to outer casing 110 or 510, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, step 620 can include integrally coupling at least a portion of the clip to at least a portion of the outer casing. As an example, the integrally coupling step can include gluing a portion of the clip to the outer casing.
In some embodiments, step 620 can include integrally forming at least a portion of the clip with at least a portion of the outer casing. As an example, the integrally forming step can include forming a portion of the clip and a portion of the outer casing in the same injection molding, transfer molding, or other formation process.
In some examples, step 620 can include providing the clip to include: (a) a main portion; and (b) a tail portion such that the tail portion forms at least a portion of an outer surface of outer casing. For example, the main portion and the tail portion can be identical to or similar to main portion 121 and tail portion 123, respectively, as shown in
Flow chart 600 of
Next, flow chart 600 of
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, many other design for clips 120 (
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the invention claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
