Input device for a computer system

• US 20060284830A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Glen C., Bathiche, Steven N., Bohn, David D., Oliver, Thomas C., De Leon, Ceasar
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks

Abstract

A peripheral input device having a body configured to be stored within a housing of a computer device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a wireless input device is configured to be recharged within the housing. Further aspects of the invention relate to an input device configured to operatively connect to underutilized ports of a computer system. In one embodiment, the input device operatively connects to a PCMCIA port of a computer. Yet further aspects of the invention relate to an input device having an expandable body, wherein the body may be configured to have an increased surface area upon expansion of the body.

Claims

1. A peripheral input device for a computing system having a housing, the input device comprising:

a body comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width and configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system;

a tracking mechanism, wherein the tracking mechanism is configured to detect movement of the bottom of the body over a surface; and

an interface for interfacing the computing system.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the length of the body is not greater than 86 mm.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing of the computing system is a PCMCIA slot.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a PCMIA port of the computer.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication system.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a computer port that is external to the computer housing.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the body of the input device is configured to slidably communicate with the housing.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises an expandable body, wherein the expandable body is configured to have an increased surface area upon expansion of the body.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the expandable body comprises extendable sections that extend from the bottom of the input device, thereby increasing the overall height of the input device.

10. The input device of claim 8, wherein the expandable body comprises at least one protrusion extending from the top of the body.

11. The input device of claim 10, wherein the protrusion comprises at least one optics component, wherein the distance between the optics component and the bottom of the body increases upon expansion of the body.

12. An input device for a computing system having a housing, wherein the housing is configured to move over a tracking surface, the input device comprising:

a body comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width and configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system;

an optical navigation system comprising;

a light source for emitting light;

a light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light from the light source, wherein at least a portion of the light within the light pipe is projected onto the tracking surface;

at least one microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light reflected from the tracking surface; and

a light sensor in optical communication with the at least one microlens array.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the at least one microlens array is in rigid communication with the light pipe.

14. The input device of claim 12, wherein the optical navigation system further comprises an aperture plate.

15. The input device of claim 12, wherein the length of the body is not greater than 86 mm.

16. The input device of claim 12, wherein the computer housing is a PCMCIA slot.

17. The input device of claim 12, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a PCMIA port of the computer.

18. The input device of claim 17, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication system.

19. An input device for a computing system having a housing, the input device comprising:

a body comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width body is configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system;

a tracking mechanism, wherein the tracking mechanism has a surface configured to directly receive an input from a user;

an interface for interfacing the computing system; and

at least one user-selectable input mechanism.

20. The input device of 19, wherein the tracking mechanism surface is configured to directly receive an input selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and combinations thereof.