Mechanically powered cordless pointing device

• US 7,554,212 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Ken A., Fouquet, Julie E., Panotopoulos, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/512,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.E
• US Class Current: 290/1.00E
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• 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

Abstract

A computer peripheral system includes a computer peripheral and a mechanical input device adapted to initiate a conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. The computer peripheral includes an energy conversion device adapted to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The converted electrical energy provides power to at least one computer peripheral component.

Claims

1. A computer peripheral system, the system comprising:

a computer peripheral; and

a mechanical input device adapted to initiate a conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy, the computer peripheral including an energy conversion device adapted to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, wherein the converted electrical energy provides power to at least one computer peripheral component, the mechanical input device comprising a manually displaceable ratchet mechanically coupled to a gear that is mechanically coupled to a mainspring such that the mainspring is incrementally rotated by the gear as the ratchet is advanced linearly to rotate the gear.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer peripheral further comprises:

a mechanical energy storage device coupled to the mechanical input device and the energy conversion device, wherein the stored mechanical energy is released to provide power to the at least one computer peripheral component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer peripheral further comprises:

an electrical energy storage device is coupled to the energy conversion device and the at least one computer peripheral component, wherein the stored energy is released to provide power to the at least one computer peripheral component.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises at least one of a primary battery, a secondary battery, a capacitor, a super-capacitor, a plurality of capacitors, an inductor, a plurality of inductors, a plurality of batteries and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, further including:

a housing adapted to enclose the energy conversion device and the computer peripheral components, the housing including a pliable area that is in contact with the ratchet such that the pliable area of the housing can be pushed to advance the ratchet to rotate the gear.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the housing includes:

at least one hole extending through a surface of the housing, the hole adapted to receive the mechanical input device, wherein the mechanical input device is mechanically coupled to a mechanical energy storage device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer peripheral is a cordless mouse.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input device further comprises a spring attached to the ratchet to return the ratchet to its original position after the ratchet has been advanced to rotate the gear.

9. A mechanically powered computer peripheral comprising:

a mechanical energy storage device adapted to store mechanical energy;

a mechanical input device adapted to configure the mechanical energy storage device to store mechanical energy, the mechanical input device comprising a manually displaceable ratchet mechanically coupled to a gear that is mechanically coupled to a mainspring such that the mainspring is incrementally rotated by the gear as the ratchet is advanced linearly to rotate the gear; and

an energy conversion device adapted to release the stored mechanical energy as electrical energy, wherein the released electrical energy is used to power the computer peripheral.

10. The computer peripheral of claim 9, wherein the mechanical input device is adapted to mechanically couple to the mechanical energy storage device.

11. The computer peripheral of claim 9, further comprising:

an electrical energy storage device adapted to store the released electrical energy and adapted to release the electrical energy stored in the electrical energy storage device.

12. The computer peripheral of claim 11, wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a super-capacitor, a bank of capacitors, a bank of rechargeable batteries, an inductor, a bank of inductors, and combinations thereof.

13. The computer peripheral of claim 9, wherein the computer peripheral is a cordless mouse.

14. The computer peripheral of claim 9, wherein the mechanical input device further comprises a spring attached to the ratchet to return the ratchet to its original position after the ratchet has been advanced to rotate the gear.

15. The computer peripheral of claim 9, further including:

a housing adapted to enclose the energy conversion device, the housing including a pliable area that is in contact with the ratchet such that the pliable area of the housing can be pushed to advance the ratchet to rotate the gear.

16. A system to provide mechanically generated electrical power to a computer peripheral, the system comprising:

means for inputting mechanical energy, the means for inputting comprising a manually displaceable ratchet mechanically coupled to a gear that is mechanically coupled to a mainspring such that the mainspring is incrementally rotated by the gear as the ratchet is advanced linearly to rotate the gear;

means for converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy; and

means for providing the electrical energy to a computer peripheral.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for storing the electrical energy; and

means for housing the converting means and the storing means.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for storing the mechanical energy; and

means for housing the converting means and the storing means.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for inputting further comprises a spring attached to the ratchet to return the ratchet to its original position after the ratchet has been advanced to rotate the gear.

20. The system of claim 16, further including:

a housing adapted to enclose the means for converting, the housing including a pliable area that is in contact with the ratchet such that the pliable area of the housing can be pushed to advance the ratchet to rotate the gear.