Computer input device

• US 6,816,149 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marte Alsleben
• Original Assignee: Marte Alsleben
• Inventors: Alsleben, Marte
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US10/128,607
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 345/106, 345/163, 345/168, 345/156, 340/636.14, 374/141, 374/162, 374/161, 116/207, 116/216, 349/194, 463/36, 463/37, 700/83, 700/84, 700/85
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device comprising an input mechanism for a computer system. The input mechanism is operative responsive to movements of a user of the device to send inputs to a computer system. An exterior surface of the input mechanism is operative to come in contact with the user of the device. At least one portion of the exterior surface is comprised of color changing material that is operative to turn at least one different color responsive to an increase in temperature, pressure, or changes in light exposure to the color changing material caused by contact with the user of the device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input mechanism, wherein the input mechanism is operative responsive to movements of a user of the device to send inputs to a computer system; and

a body in operative connection with the input mechanism, wherein the body includes an exterior surface that is operative to come in contact with the user of the device, wherein the exterior surface includes a first layer and a second layer disposed on top of the first layer, wherein the second layer is substantially opaque at a generally ambient room temperature, and wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially opaque to being substantially transparent responsive to an increase in temperature of the second layer caused by heat transferring into the second layer from a hand of the user of the device, whereby the first layer becomes visible through the second layer, wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially transparent to being substantially opaque when the second layer decreases in temperature responsive to the hand of the user of the device being removed from contact with the exterior surface.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the first layer includes a plurality of graphical shapes, wherein as the temperature of the second layer increases to a first temperature, at least one first one of the graphical shapes becomes visually perceivable, wherein as the temperature of the second layer increases from the first temperature to a second temperature at least one second one of the graphical shapes becomes visually perceivable.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the graphical shapes include alphabetic letters.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mechanism corresponds to a pointing device.

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mechanism corresponds to a computer mouse.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mechanism corresponds to a game controller.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mechanism corresponds to a trackball.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mechanism corresponds to a joystick.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a thermochromic dye.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a liquid crystal polymer.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a liquid crystal polymer composite film.

12. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface includes a sheet with a pressure sensitive adhesive backing, wherein the sheet is adhesively connected to the body of the input device.

13. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a plastic with at least one color changing material integrated in the second layer.

14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first layer includes at least one image which becomes visible through the second layer as the second layer becomes substantially transparent.

15. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first layer includes indicia thereon with a plurality of different colors.

16. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the first layer includes at least one word which becomes visible as the second layer becomes substantially transparent.

17. An input device comprising:

an input mechanism, wherein the input mechanism is operative responsive to movements of a user of the device to send inputs to a computer system, wherein the input mechanism includes;

an exterior surface that is operative to come in contact with the user of the device, wherein the exterior surface includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer is disposed above the first layer, wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially opaque at a first temperature to being substantially transparent at a second temperature responsive to beat from the user, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, wherein at least portions of the first layer become substantially visible through the second layer when the second layer changes from being substantially opaque to being substantially transparent, wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially transparent to being substantially opaque, wherein the portions of the first layer become substantially not visible through the second layer when the second layer changes from being substantially transparent to being substantially opaque.

18. The input device according to claim 17, wherein the input mechanism includes a mouse.

19. The input device according to claim 18, wherein the second temperature is at least one of less then or equal to the temperature of a hand of the user.

20. The input device according to claim 17, wherein the second layer is substantially clear at the second temperature.

21. The input device according to claim 17, wherein the first layer includes an image which is substantially not visible through the second layer at the first temperature of the second layer and is substantially visible through the second layer at the second temperature of the second layer.

22. A method comprising:

a) providing an input device, wherein the input device is adapted to communicate inputs to a computer system responsive to movements of a user;

b) mounting an exterior surface to the input device, wherein the exterior surface is operative to come in contact with the user of the device, wherein the exterior surface includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer is disposed above the first layer, wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially opaque at a first temperature to being substantially transparent at a second temperature responsive to heat from the user, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, wherein at least portions of the first layer become substantially visible through the second layer when the second layer changes from being substantially opaque to being substantially transparent, wherein the second layer is operative to change from being substantially transparent to being substantially opaque, wherein the portions of the first layer become substantially not visible through the second layer when the second layer changes from being substantially transparent to being substantially opaque.

23. The input device according to claim 22, wherein (b) includes mounting an enclosure body to the input device, wherein the enclosure body includes the exterior surface.

24. The input device according to claim 22, wherein (b) includes mounting a flexible sheet with an adhesive to the input device, wherein the flexible sheet includes the exterior layer.