Pointing device with a controller for monitoring a protocol selector signal derived from a computer to select one of a compatibility function and an additional function

• US 6,321,281 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujikawa, Reiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US09/170,828
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 710/73, 710/129, 235/380, 235/550, 713/159
• US Class Current: 710/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A pointing device has a controllable selector for sending a version compatible signal and a newer functionality signal to a computer terminal. The pointing device has an operating unit which produces a signal which can be passed directly to the computer terminal, or can be modified with a new functionality, and then passed to the computer terminal. A controller in the pointing device monitors a protocol signal line to determine whether a version compatible signal or a new functionality signal is called for. The controller can activate a new functionality circuit and the selector to send the appropriate signal to the computer terminal. The controller can also monitor the protocol signal line in a power-on state, and execute a procedure to determine the functionality requested by the protocol signal line.

Claims

1. A pointing device comprising:

a pointing device operating unit for producing an operation signal every time said pointing device is operated;

a compatibility function signal producing circuit for producing a signal indicative of an original compatibility function of said pointing device in response to the operation signal produced from said pointing device operating unit;

an additional function signal producing circuit for changing said operation signal produced from said pointing device operating unit into a signal indicative of an additional function to thereby produce an additional function signal;

a selector for selectively supplying any one of said compatibility function signal produced from said compatibility function signal producing circuit and said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit to a computer main body connectable of said pointing device; and

a controller for monitoring a protocol selector signal derived from said computer main body and for controlling said selector to selectively supply at least one of said compatibility function signal produced from said compatibility function signal producing circuit and said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit to said computer main body, said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit being supplied to said computer main body in such a case that said protocol selector signal satisfies a condition under which an operation mode is changed into an additional function mode where the additional function of said pointing device is executed.

2. A pointing device according to claim 1 wherein:

said additional function signal producing circuit receives a command/data signal via the selector from said computer main body to analyze a command and data from said received command/data.

3. A pointing device according to claim 2 wherein:

said command/data signal contains at least data defined by a move amount of said pointing device, a change of sensitivities of said pointing device, and a temporary stop of an information supply.

4. A pointing device according to claim 1 wherein:

said pointing device is a mouse; and

said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit contains at least a mouse data signal, a mouse clock signal, and a CPU data signal.

5. A pointing device according to claim 1 wherein:

said protocol selector signal is connected via a resistor to the power supply of the computer main body.

6. A pointing device according to claim 1 wherein:

said controller monitors said protocol selector signal immediately after a power supply of said computer main body is turned on.