Assembly of mouse with trackball device permitting selection of the position of a chosen receiver

• US 6,747,634 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tai-Her Yang
• Original Assignee: Tai-Her Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Tai-Her
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, ALECIA DIANE
• Application Number:
  US09/709,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/163, D14/333
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads

Abstract

An integrated mouse or trackball system includes either a wired interface for the mouse or trackball device, or else a wireless receiver coupled to a wired or wireless relay keyboard. Positioning structures are included for optionally enabling the mouse or trackball device to be coupled to the interface device or receiver from either a right-hand or left-hand side of the keyboard, or from both sides of the keyboard. The positioning structures may including notches on left and right sides of the keyboard for accommodating leads or receivers, complementary pin/aperture sets for positioning receivers on either side of the keyboard or at a selected orientation at the center of the keyboard, or selectively positioned signal guiding means for guiding wireless signals from either the left or right side of the keyboard to a receiver positioned at a center of the keyboard.

Claims

1. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device, comprising:

a keyboard connected to a computer by a cable;

a mouse or trackball device;

at least one interface device for receiving signals from said mouse or trackball device and relaying said signals directly to said computer; and

selective positioning means for mounting said interface device to selectively face at least one of a left side and a right side of the keyboard and thereby enable the same mouse or trackball device to be selectively coupled to said interface device so that said mouse or trackball device may be selectively coupled to the interface device from both the left side and the right side of the keyboard, depending on a preference of a user of the mouse or trackball device.

2. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface device includes a connector located within said keyboard, said connector being connected to a relay lead extending from said keyboard to said computer and arranged to receive a complementary connector on a lead extending from said mouse or trackball, and wherein said selective positioning means includes notches on both the left and right sides of a base of the keyboard for accommodating said lead extending from the mouse or trackball device.

3. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mouse or trackball device is a wireless mouse or trackball device, wherein said interface device includes at least one wireless receiver, and wherein said selective positioning means includes notches on both left and right sides of said keyboard for accommodating said at least one wireless receiver, signals received by said at least one wireless receiver being coupled to said computer by a relay lead that extends from said keyboard to said computer.

4. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiver is an infrared receiver.

5. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receiver is an ultrasound receiver.

6. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selective positioning means further includes at least one opening on both the left and right sides of the base of the keyboard for receiving at least one complementary pin extending from said at least one receiver.

7. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selective positioning means further includes a plurality of openings on both the left and right sides of the base of the keyboard for receiving complementary pins extending from said at least one receiver.

8. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receivers are coupled to said relay lead by a lead extending from said receiver, and mating connector structures on said relay lead and said lead extending from said receiver.

9. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selective positioning means further includes at least one opening on both the left and right sides of the base of the keyboard for receiving at least one complementary pin extending from said at least one receiver.

10. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selective positioning means further includes a plurality of openings on both the left and right sides of the base of the keyboard for receiving complementary pins extending from said at least one receiver.

11. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mouse or trackball device is a wireless mouse or trackball device, wherein said interface device includes a wireless receiver, and wherein said selective positioning means includes openings in a central area of a base of said keyboard, and complementary positioning pins extending from said wireless receiver for mounting said wireless receiver to said base of said keyboard so as to selectively face a right side or a left side of said keyboard, signals received by said at least one wireless receiver being coupled to said computer by a relay lead that extends from said keyboard to said computer.

12. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver is an infrared receiver.

13. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver is an ultrasound receiver.

14. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mouse or trackball device is a wireless mouse or trackball device, wherein said interface device includes a wireless receiver situated in a central area of a base of said keyboard and signal guiding structures for reflecting signals received from either the left or the right side of said keyboard to said wireless receiver situated in a central area of the base of said keyboard, said selective positioning means including means for mounting said signal guiding structures on left and right sides of said keyboard.

15. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said receiver is an infrared receiver.

16. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said receiver is an ultrasound receiver.

17. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal guiding structures are reflective structures.

18. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising mousepad structures extending from at least one side of said keyboard.

19. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a charging socket assembly built-into a wall of said keyboard.

20. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said mouse or trackball device includes a plurality of wireless signal transmission structures for emitting wireless signals at different orientations to facilitate use of the mouse or trackball device on either side of said keyboard.

21. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface device is arranged to receive and transmit signals from a plurality of different devices, including devices selected from the group consisting of a CD ROM device, a CDR device, a CDRW device, a DVD device, a scanner, and a camera.

22. An assembly for using a keyboard as an operational relay for a mouse or trackball device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface device includes a connector selected from the group consisting of a PS2, USB, and serial interface connector.