Wireless mouse capable of generating and accumulating electrical energy

• US 6,686,903 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EJT Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silitek Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Peng, Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/628,342
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/164, 345/167
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless mouse capable of generating and accumulating electrical energy. The wireless mouse includes: (a) a first rolling wheel, which longitudinally props up the rolling ball and detects the displacement of the wireless mouse along the X-axis; (b) a second rolling wheel, which transversely props up the rolling ball and detects the displacement of the wireless mouse projected along the Y-axis; (c) an auxiliary rolling wheel, wherein the auxiliary rolling wheel, the first rolling wheel, and the second rolling wheel together prop up the rolling ball to keep the rolling ball in a certain rolling position; (d) at least one power generating device for transforming the dynamic energy produced by revolutions of the first/second rolling wheel to electrical energy; (e) an power storage device for storing electrical energy; and (f) a RF transmitting module for transmitting a moving signal of the wireless mouse and control signals of the left and right buttons.

Claims

1. A wireless mouse capable of generating and accumulating electrical energy, comprising:

a rolling ball;

a first rolling wheel, which longitudinally props up the rolling ball in order to detect the displacement of the wireless mouse projected along an X-axis;

a second rolling wheel, which transversely props up the rolling ball in order to detect the displacement of the wireless mouse projected along a Y-axis;

an auxiliary rolling wheel, wherein the auxiliary rolling wheel, the first rolling wheel, and the second rolling wheel together prop up the rolling ball so that the rolling ball is kept in a certain rolling position;

a first power generating device for transforming the dynamic energy produced by revolutions of the first rolling wheel to electrical energy;

a second power generating device for transforming the dynamic energy produced by revolutions of the second rolling wheel to electrical energy;

a power storage device for storing electrical energy generated by the first power generating device and the second power generating device; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitting module for transmitting a moving signal of the wireless mouse.

2. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a left button;

a left button detector for detecting actuation of the left button;

a right button; and

a right button detector for detecting actuation of the right button;

wherein the radio frequency control module additionally transmits control signals indicating actuation of the left and right buttons.

3. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a scroll wheel; and

a scroll detector for detecting actuation of the scroll wheel,

wherein the radio frequency control module additionally transmits control signals indicating actuation of the scroll wheel.

4. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first gear-wheel, which is connected to the first rolling wheel by a first shaft so that the first gear-wheel and the first rolling wheel turn together with each other; and

a second gear-wheel, which is connected to the second rolling wheel by a second shaft so that the second gear-wheel and the second rolling wheel turn together with each other.

5. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless mouse further comprises a third gear-wheel coaxially connected to the first generating device and a fourth gear-wheel coaxially connected to the second generating device, and wherein the first generating device is indirectly connected to the first gear-wheel by the third gear-wheel, which meshes with the first gear-wheel, and the second generating device is indirectly connected to the second gear-wheel by the fourth gear-wheel, which meshes with the second gear-wheel.

6. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power storage device comprises:

a first bridge rectifier for receiving the electrical energy outputted by the first generating device;

a second bridge rectifier for receiving the electrical energy outputted by the second generating device;

a voltage regulator for stably outputting current, wherein the voltage regulator is coupled to the first bridge rectifier and the second bridge rectifier; and

a battery for storing electrical energy, wherein the battery is coupled to the voltage regulator.

7. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 6, wherein the voltage regulator comprises:

a resistance, wherein the resistance has a first terminal coupled to the first and second bridge rectifiers and a second terminal coupled to the battery; and

a capacitor having a first terminal that is coupled to the first terminal of the resistance and a second terminal, which is grounded.

8. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first point detector for detecting revolutions of the first rolling wheel; and

a second point detector for detecting revolutions of the second rolling wheel.

9. A wireless mouse capable of generating and accumulating electrical energy, comprising:

a rolling ball;

a first rolling wheel that is mounted for rotation about an axis extending in a first direction, the first rolling wheel engaging the rolling ball;

a second rolling wheel that is mounted for rotation about an axis extending in a second direction, the second rolling wheel engaging the rolling ball;

an auxiliary rolling wheel, wherein the auxiliary rolling wheel, the first rolling wheel, and the second rolling wheel together prop up the rolling ball so that the rolling ball is kept in a certain rolling position;

a first movement sensor, linked to the first rolling wheel, for generating moving signals when the first rolling wheel rotates;

a first power generating device, linked to the first rolling wheel and to the first movement sensor, for transforming dynamic energy produced by the revolutions of the first rolling wheel to electrical energy;

a second movement sensor, linked to the second rolling wheel, for generating moving signals when the second rolling wheel rotates;

a second power generating device, linked to the second rolling wheel and to the second movement sensor, for transforming dynamic energy produced by the revolutions of the second rolling wheel to electrical energy; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitting module for transmitting the moving signals.

10. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a left button;

a left button detector for detecting actuation of the left button;

a right button; and

a right button detector for detecting actuation of the right button,

wherein the radio frequency transmitting module additionally transmits control signals indicating actuation of the left and right buttons.

11. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a scroll wheel; and

a scroll wheel detector for detecting actuation of the scroll wheel,

wherein the radio frequency transmitting module additionally transmits control signals indicating actuation of the scroll wheel.

12. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a first gear-wheel, which is coaxially connected to the first rolling wheel so that the first gear-wheel and the first rolling wheel turn together with each other.

13. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless mouse further comprises a second gear-wheel connected to the first generating device, and wherein the first generating device is indirectly connected with the first gear-wheel by the second gear-wheel, which meshes with the first gear-wheel.

14. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a power storage device for storing electrical energy generated by the first power generating device.

15. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power storage device comprises:

a first bridge rectifier for receiving the electrical energy outputted by the first generating device;

a voltage regulator for stably outputting current, wherein the voltage regulator is connected to the first bridge rectifier; and

a battery for storing electrical energy, wherein the battery is connected to the voltage regulator.

16. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 15, wherein the voltage regulator comprises:

a resistance, wherein the resistance has a first terminal coupled to the first bridge rectifier and a second terminal coupled to the battery; and

a capacitor, wherein the capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the first bridge rectifier and a grounded second terminal.

17. The wireless mouse as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a first point detector for detecting revolutions of the first rolling wheel; and

a second point detector for detecting revolutions of the second rolling wheel.