Magnetic mouse and/or mouse-pad
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer mouse device and mouse-pad system comprising:
- a computer mouse device for controlling the position of a cursor within a display device;
a mouse-pad for use in connection with said mouse device;
wherein one of said mouse device and said mouse-pad comprises an electromagnet and the other comprises a ferromagnetic material wherein said electromagnet is adapted to exert sufficient magnetic force relative to said ferromagnetic material to hold said mouse from moving relative to said mouse-pad when said mouse pad is at an angle relative to horizontal with said mouse in contact with said mouse-pad; and
a user operable input device for allowing a user to selectively adjust a strength of said electromagnetic force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a computer mouse-device/mouse-pad combination in which the mouse device and mouse-pad are magnetically attracted to each other so that a mouse device will stay fixed to the mouse-pad when the mouse-pad is at an angle to the horizontal. Preferably, the mouse device is magnetized by an electromagnetic magnet which is controlled to be sensitive to the touch of the user such that the magnetic force is weakened or turned off when the user touches the mouse device and is turned on full force when the user'"'"'s hand is not in contact with the mouse device.
35 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer mouse device and mouse-pad system comprising:
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a computer mouse device for controlling the position of a cursor within a display device;
a mouse-pad for use in connection with said mouse device;
wherein one of said mouse device and said mouse-pad comprises an electromagnet and the other comprises a ferromagnetic material wherein said electromagnet is adapted to exert sufficient magnetic force relative to said ferromagnetic material to hold said mouse from moving relative to said mouse-pad when said mouse pad is at an angle relative to horizontal with said mouse in contact with said mouse-pad; and
a user operable input device for allowing a user to selectively adjust a strength of said electromagnetic force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
said magnet is an electromagnet;
said system further comprises a sensor for sensing the angle of said mouse-pad relative to said arm; and
said system further comprises circuitry for adjusting a force of said electromagnet responsive to said sensor.
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13. The system of claim 11 further comprising:
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a sensor for sensing the angle of said mouse-pad relative to a horizontal plane; and
circuitry for adjusting a force of said electromagnet responsive to said sensor.
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14. The system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic force is consistent over the entire mouse-pad.
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15. A computer mouse device for controlling the position of a cursor within a display device, said computer mouse device for use with a ferromagnetic mouse-pad, said mouse device comprising an electromagnet such that said mouse device will be held by magnetic force to said mouse-pad wherein said electromagnet is adapted to exert sufficient magnetic force relative to said ferromagnetic mouse-pad to hold said mouse from moving relative to said mouse-pad when said mouse pad is at an angle relative to horizontal with said mouse in contact with said mouse-pad;
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a user operable input device for allowing a user to selectively adjust a strength of said electromagnetic force. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a cable for connecting said mouse device to a computer, said cable including an electrical path for providing current to said electromagnet wherein said electrical path for providing current to said electromagnet is a same electrical path used by said mouse device to operate other circuitry in said mouse device.
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21. The system of claim 15 wherein said magnetic force is consistent over the entire mouse-pad.
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22. A computer mouse device and mouse pad system comprising:
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a computer mouse device for controlling the position of a cursor within a display device;
a mouse-pad for use in connection with said mouse device;
a sensor for sensing the angle of one of said mouse and said mouse pad relative to a horizontal plane;
wherein one of said mouse device and said mouse pad comprises an electromagnet and the other comprises a ferromagnetic material wherein said electromagnet is adapted to exert sufficient magnetic force relative to said ferromagnetic material to hold said mouse from moving relative to said mouse-pad when said mouse-pad is at an angle relative to horizontal with said mouse in contact with said mouse pad; and
circuitry for adjusting a force of said electromagnet responsive to said sensor.
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Specification