Computer mouse with magnetic orientation features

• US 20040104892A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laurence J. Crew
• Original Assignee: HIFN
• Inventors: Crew, Laurence James
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A computer mouse 10 has magnetic orientation features. It comprises a body 11 in which is located a mechanism 13 for sensing the x and y movement of the body and a compassing device 16 for determining the magnetic orientation of the body. The mouse has a processor 40 for receiving and processing x and y movement data and magnetic orientation data. The processor sends the processed data to a transmitter 15 located in the body. The transmitter is wireless and sends signals based on the x and y data and the magnetic orientation data in real time.

Claims

1. A computer mouse with magnetic orientation, comprising:

a body in which is located a mechanism for sensing the x and y movement of the body and converting this movement to x and y movement data;

the body containing a compassing device for determining the magnetic orientation of the body and converting the magnetic orientation to magnetic orientation data;

a processor for receiving and processing the x and y movement data and the magnetic orientation data and for sending the processed data to a transmitter located in the body;

the transmitter being a wireless transmitter for sending signals based on the x and y data and the magnetic orientation data in real time.

2. The mouse of claim 1, wherein:

the compassing device is a solid state sensor.

3. The mouse of claim 2, wherein:

the sensor comprises two linear magnetic sensors mounted at 90 degrees to each other.

4. The mouse of claim 1, wherein:

the mouse includes a user command input switch which is orientation free.

5. The mouse of claim 4, wherein:

the mouse includes a second user command input switch which is orientation free.

6. The mouse of claim 4, wherein:

the mouse further comprises a flexible exterior cover under which is located a first user command input switch which is activated when the shell is squeezed.

7. The mouse of claim 5, wherein:

the mouse further comprises a flexible exterior cover under which is located a first user command input switch which is activated when the cover is squeezed and a second user command input switch which is activated when the cover is depressed.

8. The mouse of claim 6, wherein:

the first user command input switch comprises two buttons located at generally ninety degrees to one another.

9. The mouse of claim 6, wherein:

the first user command input switch is assuredly activated when a lower rim of the cover is squeezed at any diametrically opposite positions.

10. The mouse of claim 1, wherein:

the body is round.

11. The mouse of claim 1, wherein:

the body is round and has mounted on it a base orientation switch which communicates with the processor.

12. The mouse of claim 10, further comprising:

a ball bearings assembly interposed between the body and a retaining ring, the assembly providing the mouse with a lower friction coefficient in a rotational mode than in a linear mode.

13. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising:

a compass disabling switch.

14. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising:

a first circuit board on which is mounted an optical sensor for generating x and y data.

15. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board carrying a vertically oriented user command input switch.

16. The mouse of claim 14, further comprising:

a second circuit board, located above the first circuit board, the second circuit board carrying batteries for operating the mouse.

17. The mouse of claim 15, further comprising:

a semi-rigid shell interposed between a flexible outer cover the circuit board;

the shell transmitting a downward force from the cover to the vertically oriented switch.

18. The mouse of claim 6, wherein:

the first user command input switch comprises three buttons located at generally one hundred and eighty degrees to one another.