Mouse pad for initiating or controlling software applications

• US 6,445,378 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William F. Flagg
• Original Assignee: William F. Flagg
• Inventors: Flagg, William F
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Application Number:
  US09/257,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-157, 345/163-166, 345/173-183, 248/918, 178/18-1-, 178/19-1-, 434/317, D14/458, 463/37-38, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/510-520
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads

Abstract

A mouse pad for a computer system capable of loading, initiating, or running a computer program includes buttons or switches embedded in the mouse pad and which do not extend above the top surface of the mouse pad. The mouse pad is connected to a computer via the computer'"'"'s keyboard port such that the buttons or switches, upon activation or depression, can be used as or like programmable function keys to initiate, control, launch, load, or run a software program or other application on a computer system.

Claims

1. A mouse pad having a substantially flat and flexible top surface for supporting mouse means for communicating with a computer from anywhere on said top surface, said mouse pad comprising:

a base layer;

a first layer coupled to said base layer and including a first electrically conductive strip and a second electrically conductive strip;

a second layer having at least one opening extending trough it or formed at the perimeter of said second layer, said second layer being coupled to said fit layer such that said opening is positioned over at least a portion of said first conductive strip and at least a portion of said second conductive strip; and

a third layer normally separated from said first layer by said second layer and having at least one electrically conductive region located anywhere on said third layer, said third layer coupled to said second layer such that at least a portion of said conductive region of said third layer is positioned over or adjacent at least a portion of said opening of said second layer, wherein upon application of at least a threshold pressure to said conductive region of sad third layer, such that said conductive region of said third layer is moved toward said first layer, said conductive region of said third layer extends at least partially through said opening in said second layer and contacts both said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip;

whereby upon said computer being placed in communication with one of said first and second conductive strip, a signal is generated by contacting said first and second conductive strip with said third layer to cause at least one of initiating, loading, controlling or running a software program on a computer.

2. The mouse pad of claim 1, including a surface layer having a bottom surface coupled to said second conductor layer.

3. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said third layer includes non-electrically conductive material.

4. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said second layer includes non-electrically conductive material.

5. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip form a contact pad in said first layer.

6. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said first layer includes a third electrically conductive strip and a fourth electrically conductive strip.

7. The mouse pad of claim 6, wherein said first conductive strip and said third conductive strip form a contact pad in said first layer.

8. The mouse pad of claim 7, wherein said second conductive strip and said fourth conductive strip from a contact pad in said first layer.

9. The mouse pad of claim 6, wherein said second layer includes a second opening extending through said second layer or forming part of the perimeter of said second layer and said second layer is coupled to said first layer such that said second opening is positioned over or adjacent at least a portion of said first conductive strip and at least a portion of said third conductive strip.

10. The mouse pad of claim 9, wherein said third layer includes a second conductive region, said second layer being coupled to said third layer such that said second conductive region is positioned over at least a portion of said second opening of said second layer, wherein upon application of pressure to said second conductive region of said third layer, said second conductive region of said third layer extends at least partially through said second opening in said second layer and contacts both said first conductive strip and said third conductive strip.

11. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said second layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.002 inches.

12. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said third layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.002 inches.

13. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said base layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 inches.

14. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said threshold pressure is greater than or equal to two-hundred grams of operating force.

15. The mouse pad of claim 1, wherein said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip are distinct and non-contacting within said first layer.

16. The mouse pad of claim 2, wherein said surface layer has a substantially flat top surface.

17. The mouse pad of claim 16, wherein said bottom surface of said surface layer is substantially flat.

18. The mouse pad of claim 2, wherein said surface layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.05 inches.

19. An attachment to a computer, comprising a mouse pad having a substantially flat and flexible top surface for supporting mouse means for communicating with said computer from anywhere on said top surface, said mouse pad having at least one depressible portion contained substantially or entirely anywhere within said mouse pad, said mouse pad being electrically connectable to a keyboard and a keyboard port on the computer such that depression of at least one depressible portion causes a first signal to be transmitted to the computer and depression of a key on said keyboard causes a second signal to be transmitted to the computer, wherein said mouse pad includes a flexible base layer, a fist conductor layer coupled to said base layer and including a first conducting strip and a second conductive strip, a non-conductive layer normally separating said fiat top surface and said first conductor layer and having at least one hole extending through it, said nonconductive layer being coupled to said first conducive layer such that said hole is positioned over at least a portion of said first conductive strip and at least a portion of said second conductive strip;

thereby depressing on one of said depressible portion of said mouse pad to generate an electrical signal for initiating, loading, controlling or running a software program on a computer.

20. The attachment of claim 19, wherein said mouse pad includes a plurality of depressible portions and the depression of each of said plurality of depressible portions appears as at least one keyboard stroke or keypress to the computer.

21. The attachment of claim 19, wherein the computer is programmed such that said depression of said at least one depressible portion pad initiates or controls loading, running, or operation of software in the computer.

22. The attachment of claim 19, wherein said base layer includes rubber material.

23. The attachment of claim 19, wherein said mouse pad includes a second conductor layer having at least one conductive region, said second conductor layer couple to said non-conductive layer such that said conductive region is positioned over at least a portion of said hole of said non-conductive layer, wherein upon application of at least a first pressure to said conductive region of said second conductor layer, said con region of said second conductor layer contacts both said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip.

24. The attachment of claim 23, wherein said first pressure is greater than or equal to an operating force of two hundred grams.

25. The attachment of claim 23, wherein said second conductor layer includes non-electrically conductive material.

26. The attachment of claim 19, wherein said non-conductive layer includes plastic material.

27. The attachment of claim 19, wherein said mouse pad is substantially flexible.

28. An apparatus, comprising a mouse pad having a top layer with a substantially flat and flexible top surface for supporting mouse means for communicating with a computer from anywhere on said top surface, said mouse pad including a second layer having at least two electrically conductive areas normally separated from said top surface and a first switch that electrically connects said two electrically conductive areas when a force greater than or equal to a threshold farce is exerted on at least a portion of said top surface located anywhere thereon such that said portion of said top surface is directed toward both said two electrically conductive areas;

whereby upon said computer being placed in communication with one of said two conductive areas, a signal is generated by electrically connecting said two conductive areas to cause at least one of initiating, loading, controlling or running a software program on a computer.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said top surface is substantially flat.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said first switch is substantially or completely embedded or contained within said pad.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, including an electric circuit capable of coupling said two electrically conductive areas to a computer such that said electrical connection of said two electrically conductive areas can be detected by said computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, including a third electrically conductive area and a second switch that electrically connects said third electrically conductive area and at least one of said two electrically conductive areas when a force greater than or equal to said threshold force is applied to at least a portion of said top surface such that at least a portion of said top surface is directed toward said third electrically conductive area.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said second switch is substantially or completely embedded or contained within said pad.