Collapsible computer mouse

• US 6,970,156 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverstein, D. Amnon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/597,960
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345163-169, D14402-410, D14/432, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 361/683, 361/686, 382/124
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer mouse includes a collapsible housing and an optical sensor within the housing. The housing may be collapsed into a relatively flat or compact structure. Once collapsed, the mouse may be stored in a compartment such as a PCMCIA slot of a notebook computer.

Claims

1. A computer mouse comprising:

a motion sensor; and

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor, the mouse sized to fit within a PCMCIA slot when the housing is fully collapsed.

2. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising a retractable cable assembly within the housing.

3. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter within the housing.

4. The mouse of claim 1, further comprising a PCMCIA connector mounted to the housing.

5. A computer mouse comprising:

a motion sensor; and

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor, the collapsible housing including a rigid base and an upper portion attached to the base, the upper portion made entirely of an elastic material that is flattened by application of a downward force toward the base and that returns to its original shape when the downward force is removed.

6. The mouse of claim 5, wherein the housing is collapsible into a relatively flat structure.

7. The mouse of claim 5, wherein the motion sensor includes an optical sensor.

8. The mouse of claim 5, further comprising a sensor within the housing, wherein changes in volume of the housing correspond to mouse clicks, and wherein the sensor detects the changes in housing volume;

whereby the detected chances indicate mouse clicks.

9. A computer mouse comprising:

a motion sensor; and

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor, the collapsible housing including a resilient plastic sheet that defines outer housing walls that are foldable about fold lines to allow the housing to collapse into a relatively flat structure when a downward force is applied the housing returning to its original shape when the downward force is removed.

10. The mouse of claim 9, wherein the resilient plastic sheet further defines a top portion and a base;

and wherein the foldable walls are inwardly-folding sidewalls between the top portion and the base.

11. A computer mouse comprising:

a motion sensor;

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor, wherein the collapsible housing includes a rigid base and an upper portion attached to the base, the upper portion made of an elastic material that allows the housing to be collapsed; and

wherein the housing has a deflectable mouse button area; and

at least one sensor for detecting when the area is deflected;

whereby deflecting the area corresponds to clicking a mouse button.

12. A computer mouse comprising:

a motion sensor;

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor, the collapsible housing including a resilient plastic sheet having fold lines that allow the housing to collapse into a relatively flat structure;

a bendable strip cantilevered from the housing; and

a sensor for detecting when the strip is bent;

whereby bending the strip corresponds to clicking a mouse button.

13. A computer mouse comprising

a motion sensor including a sensor chip;

and

a collapsible housing for the motion sensor;

the sensor chip movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

14. The mouse of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor also includes a lens, and wherein the sensor chip is moved relative to the lens when the housing is collapsed.

15. A combination comprising a mouse including a collapsible housing, the mouse sized to fit within a PCMCIA slot when the housing is fully collapsed;

and a PCMCIA card for communicating with the mouse.

16. The combination of claim 15, further comprising a flat battery within the housing and a battery charger within one of the mouse and the PCMCIA card.

17. The combination of claim 15, further comprising a portable computer having first and second PCMCIA slots, the mouse sized to fit in one of the PCMCIA slots.