Integrated cordless mouse and laser pointer

• US 6,417,840 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Daniels, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/317,841
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 345/163, 345/166, 345/169, 345/183, 345/182, 345/180, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A communication device capable of selectively communicating control signals to a computer and transmitting a narrow beam of light. A cordless communication device is provided having operational buttons and a port. The communication device may function as a computer mouse, a trackball apparatus, or a touch pad apparatus. Operational signals are generated by a signal generator in response to activation of the operational buttons or movement of a mouse ball. The communication device further includes a light generating apparatus in communication with the port which generates the narrow beam of light. A selectively operable switch is provided for selectively transmitting the operational signals or the beam of light. The communication device includes an independent power supply as well as a power level monitor and switching apparatus. Preferably, the beam of light is a laser beam or other focused beam of light.

Claims

1. A computer communication device, comprising:

a communicating mechanism having a light transmission port;

a signal generator configured to transmit operational and motion signals through the transmission port to control a computer;

a light beam generator configured to transmit a narrow beam of light at a frequency different than a frequency of the operational and motion signals through the same transmission port to form a visible image on a reflective surface; and

a transmission device operatively coupled among the signal generator, the light beam generator, and the transmission port, the transmission device having a first branch to transmit operational signals from the signal generator to the transmission port, the transmission device further having a second branch to transmit light from the light beam generator to the transmission port.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a selectively operable switch for selectively transmitting one of (a) said operational signals to the computer and (b) said narrow beam of light.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the light beam generator is configured to generate a laser beam.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer mouse ball.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer track ball apparatus.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer touch pad apparatus.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal generator is configured to transmit infrared signals which pass through the port.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said communicating mechanism is cordless and has an independent power supply.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the independent power supply includes one or more batteries.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a single battery powering the signal generator and the light beam generator.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising at least two batteries, at least one battery powering the signal generator and at least another battery powering the light beam generator.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of batteries powering the signal generator and another plurality of batteries powering the light beam generator.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said communicating mechanism further comprises a battery monitoring and switching circuit which automatically switches at least one of a circuit producing said operational signals and a circuit producing said beam of light from one or more batteries which are at a voltage level below a predetermined value to one or more batteries which are at a higher voltage level than said predetermined value.

14. The device of claim 2, wherein said communicating mechanism has a plurality of sides and a front surface, said port being located on said front surface and said switch being located on one of said sides.

15. The device of claim 2 wherein the switch is a momentary depression switch.

16. The device of claim 2 wherein the switch is a toggle switch.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the transmission device includes a light pipe connecting the signal generator and the light beam generator with the port.

18. A computer communication device, comprising:

a communicating mechanism having at least one light transmission port;

a signal generator for transmitting operational signals through one of the at least one transmission ports to control a computer;

a light beam generator configured to transmit a narrow beam of light through one of the at least one transmission ports to form a visible image on a reflective surface;

a selectively operable switch for selectively transmitting (a) the operational signals to the computer and (b) the light beam;

a first battery circuit coupled to the signal generator to power the signal generator, and a second battery circuit coupled to the light beam generator to power the light beam generator; and

a battery monitoring and switching circuit coupled to the first and second battery circuits and configured to automatically switch a connection to the light beam generator or the signal generator from one of the first and second battery circuits to the other of the first and second battery circuits when a voltage level of the one battery circuit falls below a predetermined value.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said communicating mechanism is cordless and has an independent power supply.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said independent power supply comprises one or more batteries.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising at least two batteries, at least one battery powering the signal generator and at least another battery powering the light beam generator.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of batteries powering the signal generator and another plurality of batteries powering the light beam generator.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer mouse ball.

24. The device of claim 18 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer track ball apparatus.

25. The device of claim 18 wherein the communicating mechanism includes a computer touch pad apparatus.

26. A method of operating a communication device for selectively communicating with a computer and directing a beam of light, the method comprising:

placing the communication device in communication with the computer; and

alternately transmitting through the same transmission port and in response to activation of a selectively operable switch one of (a) operational signals from an operational signal generator to the computer and (b) a beam of light from a light beam generator to a reflective surface to form a visible image on the reflective surface wherein the operational signals and the beam of light have different frequencies.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein placing the communication device in communication with the computer includes manipulating a computer mouse ball.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein placing the communication device in communication with the computer includes manipulating a computer track ball apparatus.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein placing the communication device in communication with the computer includes manipulating a computer touch pad apparatus.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the beam of light includes transmitting a laser beam.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the operational signals includes transmitting infrared signals.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein placing the communication device in communication with the computer includes cordlessly communicating with the computer, and wherein the method further includes powering the communication device from an independent power supply.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein powering the communication device with the independent power supply includes powering with one or more batteries.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising generating computer operational signals and generating the beam of light.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein generating signals includes activating a signal generator and wherein generating the beam of light includes activating a light beam generator.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing power to the signal generator and the light beam generator.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein providing the power includes providing power with at least one battery.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein providing the power includes providing power with at least two batteries, at least one battery powering the signal generator and another battery powering the light beam generator.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein providing the power includes providing power with a plurality of batteries powering the signal generator and another plurality of batteries powering the light beam generator.

40. The device of claim 38, further comprising monitoring the batteries and automatically switching at least one of the signal generator and the light beam generator from one or more batteries which are at a voltage level less than a predetermined value to one or more batteries which are at a voltage level higher than the predetermined value.