Illuminated computer input device

• US 6,486,873 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Plank, Robert Scott, McDonough, Timothy A., Fisher, Steven W., Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/544,110
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/167, 345/168, 345/169, 345/170
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device, such as a mouse, for a computer is provided which enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device according to the present invention is also arranged to illuminate the area proximate the input device. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a supporting surface.

Claims

1. A computer input device for a computer, comprising:

a housing adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said housing having an upper body configured to interface with a human hand, and a generally horizontal base member having an outer periphery; and

an illumination device coupled to said housing;

wherein light from said illumination device is visible at said outer periphery of said generally horizontal base member when said housing is placed on the supporting surface; and

wherein said upper body comprises a window, which is at least semi-transparent, through which light from said illumination device is visible.

2. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device is controlled to illuminate said computer input device when the computer is ON to enable a user to determine that the computer is ON.

3. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device is arranged to illuminate a rear portion of said upper body.

4. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the computer input device is a mouse.

5. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said window is colored.

6. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said base member is semi-transparent and colored.

7. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device comprises a light source that emits colored light.

8. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device emits red light.

9. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein other than said window, the remainder of said upper body is opaque.

10. The computer input device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical tracking device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen.

11. A computer input device for a computer, comprising:

a housing adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said housing having an upper body configured to interface with a human hand, said upper body comprising an at least semi-transparent window, said upper body except said at least semi-transparent window being opaque, wherein said housing includes a generally horizontal base member having an outer periphery; and

an illumination device coupled to said housing;

wherein light illuminated from said illumination device is visible through said window when said housing is placed on the supporting surface; and

wherein light from said illumination device radiates from the outer periphery of said base member when said computer input device is placed on the supporting surface.

12. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein said illumination device is controlled to illuminate said computer input device when the computer is ON to enable a user to determine that the computer is ON.

13. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein said illumination device is arranged to illuminate a rear portion of said upper body.

14. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein the computer input device is a mouse.

15. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein said window is colored.

16. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein said base member is semi-transparent and colored.

17. The computer input device according to claim 16, wherein said computer input device is a mouse.

18. The computer input device according to claim 11, further comprising an optical tracking device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen.

19. A track-mouse device comprising:

a housing arranged to rest on a supporting surface, said housing including a generally horizontal base member and an upper body configured to interface with a human hand, and a window, wherein the base member includes an outer periphery and said window having a lower portion disposed adjacent to the base member and said window extends upwardly from said outer periphery of said base member; and

an illumination device disposed in said housing, wherein light from said illumination device is visible through said window when said housing is placed on the supporting surface.

20. A computer input device for a computer, comprising:

a housing adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said housing having an upper body configured to interface with a human hand, and a generally horizontal base member having an outer periphery, wherein said base member is semi-transparent and colored; and

an illumination device coupled to said housing;

wherein light from said illumination device is visible at said outer periphery of said generally horizontal base member when said housing is placed on the supporting surface.

21. The computer input device according to claim 20, wherein said base member includes a window which extends up from its outer periphery, wherein light from said illumination device is visible through said window.

22. The computer input device according to claim 21, wherein said housing includes at least one input key.

23. The computer input device according to claim 21, wherein said computer input device is a trackball.

24. The computer input device according to claim 20, wherein other than said window, the remainder of said upper body is opaque.

25. The computer input device according to claim 20, wherein said computer input device is a mouse.

26. The computer input device according to claim 20, further comprising an optical tracking device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen.

27. A computer input device for a computer, comprising:

a housing adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said housing having an upper body configured to interface with a human hand, and a generally horizontal base member having an outer periphery; and

an illumination device coupled to said housing;

wherein light from said illumination device is visible at said outer periphery of said generally horizontal base member when said housing is placed on the supporting surface; and

wherein said base member includes a window which extends up from its outer periphery, wherein light from said illumination device is visible through said window.

28. The computer input device according to claim 27, wherein said illumination device comprises a light source that emits colored light.

29. The computer input device according to claim 27, wherein said illumination device emits red light.

30. The computer input device according to claim 27, wherein other than said window, the remainder of said upper body is opaque.

31. The computer input device according to claim 30, wherein said computer input device is a mouse.

32. The computer input device according to claim 30, further comprising an optical tracking device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen.