Optical projection system for computer input devices

• US 7,227,532 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2003
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., Badyal, Rajeev, Oliver, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Jennifer T.
• Application Number:
  US10/722,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20050117130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/163
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A computer input device, such as an electronic mouse, having an optical projection system. The optical projection system is configured to project an image onto a housing wall surface, which may be on a side, top, or rear of the device. In one arrangement the optical projection system includes a light source, an image forming light blocker and optics. The optics may be collimating or non-collimating. In another arrangement the optical projection system may include an active LED matrix display. This system enables a use to personalize and/or customize his or her computer input device. Additionally, it permits the device to serve desirable notification functions if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising:

a housing having an outer wall; and

an image projection system substantially contained within the housing and configured to display an image on the outer wall, wherein the image projection system includes a light source, a light blocker having a light transmissive position and a light blocking portion, and a lens that creates a focal point located substantially on the outer wall for the displayed image.

2. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the computer input device is a mouse.

3. The computer input device of claim 2, wherein the image projecting system includes a light blocker and optics configured to enable the introduction of collimated light to the light blocker.

4. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the image projection system further includes a mirror disposed in a light path between the light source and the displayed image.

5. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the light blocker is optically located between the light source and the lens.

6. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the lens is optically located in a light path between the light source and the light blocker.

7. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the image projecting system includes an active LED matrix.

8. The computer input device of claim 7, wherein the active LED matrix is configured to display alphanumeric data.

9. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein computer input device is one of a trackball, mouse, and keyboard.

10. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the image projection system includes a laser.

11. The computer input device of claim 1, further comprising multiple predetermined image forming devices disposed within the housing, each image forming device producing a different displayed image.

12. The computer input device of claim 11, further comprising a device for moving the image forming devices relative to an optical path.

13. The computer input device of claim 12, wherein the device for moving the image forming devices is configured to linearly move the image forming devices.

14. The computer input device of claim 12, wherein the device for moving the image forming devices is configured to rotatably move the image forming devices.

15. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein computer input device is a pointing device.

16. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein computer input device includes a motion detecting system.

17. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall is translucent.

18. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall includes inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surfaces facing an interior of the computer input device and the outer surface facing an exterior of the computer input device.

19. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall includes a top portion, a right side portion, and left side portion, and a rear portion, wherein the image projecting system is configured to display an image on one of the right side portion and the left side portion.

20. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall includes a top portion, a right side portion, and left side portion, and a rear portion, wherein the image projecting system is configured to display an image on the rear portion.

21. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall includes a top portion, a right side portion, and left side portion, and a rear portion, wherein the image projecting system is configured to display an image on the top portion.

22. A computer mouse comprising:

a housing having an outer wall;

a plurality of actuators;

a motion detecting system for determining relative movement of the mouse; and

an optical projection system including a light source and a movable image forming element located within the housing and configured to project an image onto the outer wall, wherein the optical projection system includes an LED and collimating optics.

23. The computer mouse according to claim 22, wherein the optical projection system includes, a mirrored surface.

24. The computer mouse according to claim 22, wherein the optical projection system includes an array of LEDs.

25. The computer mouse according to claim 22 wherein the optical projection system includes a laser.

26. The computer mouse according to claim 22, further comprising means for changing the projected image.

27. The computer mouse according to claim 22, wherein the movable image forming element is configured to linearly move multiple predetermined image forming devices disposed within the housing.

28. A method of notifying a user of an occurrence via a computer input device configured to project images, the method including the steps of:

projecting a first image onto a wall surface of the computer input device; and

upon a predetermined condition associated with a computer program, projecting a second image, different from the first image, onto the wall surface of the computer input device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of projecting a first image includes projecting an image corresponding to an envelope, a facsimile machine, and a telephone.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of projecting a first image includes projecting an image corresponding to sports team insignia.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of projecting first and second images includes projecting non-alphanumeric images.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the computer input device comprises an image projection system including a light source, a light blocker having a light transmissive portion and a light blocking portion, and a lens that creates a focal point located substantially on the outer wall for the projected images.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the computer input device comprises a movable image forming element configured to linearly move multiple predetermined image forming devices disposed within the device.