Power-saving computer mouse

• US 20100156790A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-Te Chang, Kuo-Hsin Su
• Original Assignee: I-Te Chang, Kuo-Hsin Su
• Inventors: Su, Kuo-Hsin, Chang, I-Te
• Granted Patent: US 8,139,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A power-saving computer mouse having installed therein a switching transistor and a proximity sensor switch formed of a capacitive proximity sensor and a charge induction plate for controlling said switching transistor to switch on the power supply circuit when the user holds the computer mouse with a hand, or to switch off the power supply circuit when the user moves the hand away from the computer mouse.

Claims

1. A power-saving computer mouse of the type comprising a housing, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a button and roller/optical signal receiving and processing unit, a transmitting antenna, and a battery set, wherein the power-saving computer mouse further comprises a switching transistor and a proximity sensor switch for controlling said switching transistor to switch on/off said battery set by means of proximity-sensing an approaching of a user'"'"'s hand, said proximity sensor switch comprising a capacitive proximity sensor and a charge induction plate mounted inside said housing, said capacitive proximity sensor providing a high potential output to wake up said microprocessor and to trigger said switching transistor in switching on said battery set when an operator holds said housing with a hand, said capacitive proximity sensor providing a low potential output to have said microprocessor enter sleep mode and said switching transistor switch off said battery set when the operator moves the hand away from said housing.

2. The power-saving computer mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching transistor and said capacitive proximity sensor are mounted in said microprocessor.

3. A power-saving computer mouse of the type comprising a microprocessor, a button and roller/optical signal receiving and processing unit, and a cable connectable to a computer to obtain power supply therefrom, wherein the power-saving computer mouse further comprises a switching transistor and a proximity sensor switch for controlling said switching transistor to switch on/off button and roller/optical signal receiving and processing unit by means of proximity-sensing an approaching of a user'"'"'s hand, said proximity sensor switch comprising a capacitive proximity sensor and a charge induction plate mounted inside said housing, said capacitive proximity sensor providing a high potential output to wake up said microprocessor and to trigger said switching transistor in switching on said button and roller/optical signal receiving and processing unit when an operator holds said housing with a hand, said capacitive proximity sensor providing a low potential output to have said microprocessor enter sleep mode and said switching transistor switch off said button and roller/optical signal receiving and processing unit when the operator moves the hand away from said housing.

4. The power-saving computer mouse as claimed in claim 3, wherein said switching transistor and said capacitive proximity sensor are mounted in said microprocessor.