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Notebook computer with detachable infrared multi-mode input device

  • US 7,298,359 B2
  • Filed: 06/27/2001
  • Issued: 11/20/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An input device for a computer, comprising:

  • a housing;

    a rotatable ball coupled to said housing;

    an optical encoder comprising photo-interruptors disposed in said housing, said optical encoder providing output signals in response to rotation of said ball;

    a control circuit, said control circuit receiving as inputs said output signals of said optical encoder, said control circuit also capable of controlling the power to said photo-interruptors of said optical encoder;

    wherein said control circuit conserves power by operating said optical encoder in a periodic-pulsed mode when said ball is at rest longer than a preselected time interval and said control circuit utilizes said signals of said encoder in said periodic-pulsed mode to determine when to resume a continuous position sensing encoder mode;

    an infrared transmitter to transmit data corresponding to the output signals of said optical encoder;

    wherein the infrared transmitter transmits the data as bytes with a start bit; and

    wherein no infrared data are transmitted when said ball is in said power conservation state; and

    a user settable identification code.

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