CONFIGURABLE AMBIDEXTROUS INPUT DEVICE

• US 20170220132A1
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: O'Mahony, Davin, White, Niall, Forde, Kevin, Castellaro, Christian, Sauterel, Fabrice, Pate, Christopher, Fortin, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 10,042,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• 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

Abstract

In certain embodiments, an input device includes a chassis and a depressible actuator disposed on the chassis that, when depressed, generates and sends a control signal to a processor, where the actuator is coupleable to a removable button cover that provides user-access to activate the actuator, and a removable blank cover to prevent user access to activate the actuator. The button cover and blank cover can be separate from the chassis and may directly attach to the actuator. The input device can further include a second depressible actuator disposed on the chassis that, when depressed, generates and sends a second control signal to the processor, where the second actuator is coupleable to the button cover and the blank cover.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a chassis;

a depressible actuator disposed on the chassis that, when depressed, generates and sends a control signal to a processor, wherein the actuator is coupleable to;

a removable button cover that provides user-access to activate the actuator; and

a removable blank cover to prevent user access to activate the actuator,

wherein the button cover and blank cover are separate from the chassis.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein the button cover directly attaches to the actuator, and wherein the blank cover directly attaches to the actuator.

3. The input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second depressible actuator disposed on the chassis that, when depressed, generates and sends a second control signal to the processor, wherein the second actuator is coupleable to;

the button cover; and

the blank cover,

wherein the chassis has a first side and a second side,

wherein the actuator is disposed on the first side of the chassis, and

wherein the second actuator is disposed on the second side of the chassis.

4. The input device of claim 3 wherein the input device is symmetrical along a line on the chassis that bisects the first and second actuators.

5. The input device of claim 3 wherein the first actuator and second actuator are coupleable to second blank cover that covers both the first and second actuators.

6. The input device of claim 1 further comprising:

an outer housing coupled to the chassis,

wherein the outer housing has an outer contour, and

wherein the blank cover includes a surface that continues the contour of the outer housing when the blank cover is coupled to the actuator.

7. The input device of claim 1 wherein the input device is a computer mouse.

8. The input device of claim 1 wherein the button cover and the blank cover couple to the actuator via magnetic coupling.

9. A computer mouse comprising:

a chassis;

a processor disposed in the chassis;

a housing coupled to the chassis to receive a user'"'"'s hand; and

an actuator disposed on the chassis and separated from the housing,

wherein the actuator is depressible to cause the processor to electrically switch the computer mouse between a first operating state and a second operating state, and

wherein the actuator is coupleable to either one of;

a removable button cover; and

a removable blank cover,

wherein the button cover and blank cover, when coupled to the actuator, are separated from the chassis and housing,

wherein the button cover, when coupled to the actuator, allows the user to depress the actuator, and

wherein the blank cover, when coupled to the actuator, prevents the user from depressing the actuator.

10. The computer mouse of claim 9 comprising:

a second actuator disposed on the chassis and separate from the housing,

wherein the second actuator is coupleable to either one of the button cover and the blank cover,

wherein the button cover allows the user to depress the second actuator when coupled thereto, and

wherein the blank cover prevents the user from depressing the second actuator when coupled thereto.

11. The computer mouse of claim 10 wherein the blank cover couples to both the first and second actuators and prevents the user from depressing both the first and second actuators.

12. The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the housing has a surface contour, wherein the blank cover has a surface contour, and wherein the surface contour of the blank cover matches the surface contour of the housing when coupled to the actuator.

13. The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the button cover and the blank cover couple to the actuator via magnetic coupling.

14. The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the processor is disposed in the computer mouse.

15. The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the processor is external to the computer mouse.

16. A method of operating a computer mouse, the method comprising:

detecting, by a processor, a cover coupled to an actuator disposed in the computer mouse, wherein the actuator, when depressed, generates a first control signal to control a remote computing device;

determining, by the processor, that the cover is of a first type or a second type; and

generating, by the processor, a second control signal corresponding to the cover being of the first type or second type.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

configuring, by the processor, the computer mouse in a first operational configuration in response to determining that the cover is of the first type; and

configuring, by the processor, the computer mouse in a second operational configuration in response to determining that the cover is of the second type.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first operational configuration includes configuring the mouse in a right-handed configuration, and

wherein the second operational configuration includes configuring the computer mouse in a left-handed configuration.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the mouse includes:

a first mouse button; and

a second mouse button,

wherein when in the right-handed configuration;

the first mouse button, when pressed, generates a third control signal that corresponds to a left-button mouse click; and

the second mouse button, when pressed, generates a fourth control signal corresponding to a right-button mouse click; and

wherein when in the left-handed configuration;

the first mouse button, when pressed, generates the third control signal that corresponds to a right-button mouse click; and

the second mouse button, when pressed, generates the fourth control signal that corresponds to a left-button mouse click.

20. A method of operating a computer mouse, the method comprising:

receiving, by a host computer coupled to the computer mouse, a first control signal indicating that a cover is coupled to an actuator disposed in the computer mouse;

determining, by the host computer, whether the cover is of a first type or a second type;

generating, by the host computer, a second control signal to cause the computer mouse to operate in a first operational configuration in response to determining that the cover is of the first type; and

generating, by the host computer, a third control signal to cause the computer mouse to operate in a second operational configuration in response to determining that the cover is of the second type.