Pointing device, and method of displaying remaining battery power thereof

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a wireless device includes an optical motion detector, battery lifetime display unit, battery, communication unit, communication signal emitting opening, and mouse button unit. The optical motion detector includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, and optical unit. The optical unit has a light emitting unit configured to emit light from an opening toward a plate or desktop upon which the wireless device is placed, a lens for collecting the light reflected therefrom, and a CMOS image sensor for receiving the collected light and detecting patterns on the plate or desktop. The battery lifetime display unit includes the CPU, RAM, ROM, light emitting unit, and a voltage detection circuit. The battery lifetime display unit allows the user to know whether the battery thereof has reached its lifetime, that is to say, whether the voltage of the battery has dropped so low that the wireless device cannot function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view illustrating a wireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of the wireless device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the procedures for displaying the remaining battery lifetime with the wireless device shown in FIG. 1, by way of a battery lifetime display unit provided to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A pointing device for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on a display unit of an information processing device, the pointing device comprising: an emitting unit configured to emit light for controlling the movement of the pointer;a battery; anda control unit configured to control emission of light from the emitting unit with a first control method in an event that a remaining power of the battery exceeds a predetermined remaining amount, and to control emission of light from the emitting unit with a second control method in an event that the remaining power of the battery is below the predetermined remaining amount.

2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein, in the event that the remaining power of the battery is below the predetermined remaining amount, the control unit controls emission of light emitted from the emitting unit so as to perform one of blinking, turning off, and turning on.

3. A pointing device for controlling movement of a pointer displayed on a display unit of an information processing device, the pointing device comprising: an emitting unit configured to emit light for controlling the movement of the pointer;a communication unit configured to transmit, to the information processing device, signals indicating a movement amount of the pointer calculated based on the emitted light from the emitting unit;a battery; anda control unit configured to control emission of light from the emitting unit with a first control method in an event that a remaining power of the battery is such that the signals are transmitted from the communication unit to the information processing device, and controlling emission of light from the emitting unit with a second control method in an event that the remaining power of the battery is such that the signals are not transmitted from the communication unit to the information processing device.

4. The pointing device according to claim 3, wherein, in the event that the remaining power of the battery is such that the signals are not transmitted from the communication unit to the information processing device, the control unit controls emission of light emitted from the emitting unit so as to perform one of blinking, turning off, and turning on.

5. A battery remaining power display method of a pointing device having an emitting unit configured to emit light to control movement of a pointer displayed on a display unit of an information processing device, the method comprising the steps of: determining a remaining power of a battery of the pointing device;controlling emission of light from the emitting unit with a first control method in an event that determination is made in the determination step that the remaining power of the battery exceeds a predetermined remaining amount; andcontrolling emission of light from the emitting unit with a second control method in an event that determination is made in the determination step that the remaining power of the battery is below the predetermined remaining amount.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second control method is a method of controlling emission of light emitted from the emitting unit so as to perform one of blinking, turning off, and turning on.