Rechargeable cordless input and pointing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pointing device comprising:
- a) a movement detector producing electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations;
b) a controller coupled to the movement detector to receive electrical signals from the movement detector describing the manipulations, and to prepare the received signals for external wireless transmission;
c) a fuel cell, supplying power for said controller and external wireless transmission; and
an activity detector for indicating when the pointing device is in use, separate from said movement detector, said controller having a plurality of states representing different power consumption levels, a power consumption state of said controller being dependent on said activity detector.
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Abstract
A wireless pointing device, such as a computer mouse, employs self-generated electric energy to power itself and to recharge its internal energy cell. The self-generated power may come from a flywheel coupled to a generator, from a photovoltaic cell, from a secondary coil inductively coupled to an alternating current-powered primary coil in a mouse pad, or from another source. The mouse can also include a movement detector for indicating when the mouse is in use. When the mouse is not in use for a predefined time period, the mouse turns itself off, or enters a low power consumption state, to conserve the energy stored in its internal energy cell.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A pointing device comprising:
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a) a movement detector producing electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations; b) a controller coupled to the movement detector to receive electrical signals from the movement detector describing the manipulations, and to prepare the received signals for external wireless transmission; c) a fuel cell, supplying power for said controller and external wireless transmission; and an activity detector for indicating when the pointing device is in use, separate from said movement detector, said controller having a plurality of states representing different power consumption levels, a power consumption state of said controller being dependent on said activity detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A pointing device in bidirectional data communication with a host data processor, the pointing device comprising:
- a) a movement detector generating electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations;
b) a controller coupled to the movement detector to receive the electrical signals from the movement detector describing the manipulations, to prepare the received signals for wireless transmission to the host data processor, and wirelessly receive data from the host data processor, wherein said controller and a radio frequency circuit for bidirectional communication are combined on a single integrated circuit;
c) a rechargeable power storage device, supplying power for operation to said controller; and
d) a power generator to recharge said rechargeable power storage device, and to power said controller. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 56)
- a) a movement detector generating electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations;
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46. A pointing device being capable of entering a reduced power consumption state and a normal power consumption state, the pointing device comprising:
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a) a movement detector generating electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations; b) a switching assembly comprising one or more switches, each of the one or more switches being capable of assuming at least two states; c) a main controller coupled to the movement detector and to the switching assembly, to receive the electrical signals describing the manipulations, to sense the states of the one or more switches, to prepare the electrical signals describing the manipulations for transmission to a host data processor, and to generate clicking signals corresponding to the states of the one or more switches; d) an antenna; e) a transmitter coupled to the main controller and to the antenna, to receive the prepared and clicking signals from the main controller and to send the prepared and clicking signals to the host data processor through the antenna; f) a secondary power cell receiving, storing, and releasing electrical energy; g) an activity detector that produces a wake-up signal when the pointing device is moved; h) a state control mechanism comprising a timer set to expire after a first period, the state control mechanism being capable of receiving the wake-up signal from the activity detector and starting the timer upon receipt of each wake-up signal, the state control mechanism being capable of causing the pointing device to be in the normal power state upon receipt of said each wake-up signal, the state control mechanism being capable of causing the pointing device to enter the reduced power state when the timer expires; i) a fuel cell for generating electrical energy; and j) a power controller coupled to the power cell and to the fuel cell, to receive the generated electrical energy and recharge the secondary power cell.
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47. A method of operating a wireless pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting an activity of the pointing device, indicating when the pointing device is in use; b) detecting a movement of the pointing device, representing user manipulation of the pointing device, separate from said detecting an activity; c) wirelessly transmitting signals from the pointing device describing the manipulations; d) providing means for converting a fuel into electrical energy to generate electrical power in the pointing device; and e) selecting one of a plurality of states to enter into, each state having a respectively different power consumption level, a selection of state to enter into being dependent on said detecting of activity. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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48. A method of operating a wireless pointing device comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a pointing device;
b) providing a fuel cell for generating electrical power in the pointing device;
c) providing a temporary power storage element within the pointing device; and
d) providing a circuit for charging the temporary power storage element with the electrical power generated by the fuel cell, wherein said temporary power storage element supplies a required electrical power to said pointing device, an excess electrical power being accumulated in said temporary storage element.
- a) providing a pointing device;
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49. A method of operating a wireless pointing device comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a movement sensor, producing a movement output representing a movement of the pointing device; b) providing an activity sensor producing an activity output indicative of an activity of the pointing device; c) providing a controller, receiving the activity output and the movement output, and transmitting a signal wirelessly representing the movement during periods of activity, wherein the transmitting consumes power; d) providing a fuel cell which produces electrical energy from a fuel; e) activating the pointing device; f) moving the pointing device; g) wirelessly transmitting the signal; and h) ceasing the wireless transmitting to reduce power consumption.
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51. A hand-manipulated cordless computer input pointing device, comprising:
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a housing; at least one pressure-sensitive element for receiving a manual input; an electrooptical sensor, for quantitatively sensing a movement of the housing; an activity detector, for determining an activity of a user of the pointing device; a processor, receiving inputs from the activity detector, at least one pressure-sensitive element, and the sensor, and selectively activating the sensor and producing a digital output stream representing the received inputs for a period after the activity detector detects activity; a wireless transmitter, transmitting the produced digital output stream remotely from the housing; a fuel cell power source, having a peak power output insufficient to fully operably power the processor and sensor during activity; and a power storage element, storing power from the power source during periods of inactivity, such that during normal activity, at least the processor and optical sensor receive sufficient power for operation. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
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55. A pointing device in bidirectional data communication with a host data processor, and being capable of entering a reduced power consumption state and a normal power consumption state, the pointing device comprising:
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a) a movement detector generating electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations; b) a switching assembly comprising one or more switches, each of the one or more switches being capable of assuming at least two states; c) a main controller coupled to the movement detector and to the switching assembly, to receive the electrical signals describing the manipulations, to sense the states of the one or more switches, to prepare the electrical signals describing the manipulations for transmission to a host data processor, and to generate clicking signals corresponding to the states of the one or more switches; d) an antenna; e) a transmitter coupled to the main controller and to the antenna, to receive the prepared and clicking signals from the main controller and to send the prepared and clicking signals to the host data processor through the antenna, and to receive data from the host data processor, wherein the main controller and a radio frequency circuit for bidirectional communication are combined on a single integrated circuit; f) a secondary power cell receiving, storing, and releasing electrical energy; g) an activity detector that produces a wake-up signal when the pointing device is moved; h) a state control mechanism comprising a timer set to expire after a first period, the state control mechanism being capable of receiving the wake-up signal from the activity detector and staffing the timer upon receipt of each wake-up signal, the state control mechanism being capable of causing the pointing device to be in the normal power state upon receipt of said each wake-up signal, the state control mechanism being capable of causing the pointing device to enter the reduced power state when the timer expires; i) power generator for generating electrical energy; and j) a power controller coupled to the power cell and to the power generator, to receive the generated electrical energy and recharge the secondary power cell. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. A pointing device in bidirectional data communication with a host data processor, the pointing device comprising:
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a) a movement detector generating electrical signals in response to manipulations of the pointing device, the electrical signals describing the manipulations; b) a controller coupled to the movement detector to receive the electrical signals from the movement detector describing the manipulations, to prepare the received signals for wireless transmission to the host data processor, and wirelessly receive data from the host data processor; c) a rechargeable power storage device, supplying power for operation to said controller; d) a power generator to recharge said rechargeable power storage device, and to power said controller; e) an antenna; and f) a wireless transmitter coupled to the controller to receive the prepared signals from the controller, the wireless transmitter being coupled to the antenna to send the prepared signals to the host data processor through the antenna; wherein the rechargeable power source provides at least a portion of required electrical power for the wireless transmitter.
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Specification