User input device charging system

• US 7,589,496 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Monique, Odell, Daniel L., O'Neil, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/422,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080002340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 320/115, 320/108, 320/111, 320/114, 345/163, 345/157, 345/169, 710/73
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device charging system is presented. The input device charging system includes a base having a primary alignment feature and a charging connection. The alignment feature and charging connection protrude from a surface of the base and the charging connection includes components for forming an electrical connection with an input device. The input device charging system also includes an input device, such as a mouse, configured for horizontal placement on the base. The input device includes a primary alignment feature and a charging connection configured to correspond to the primary alignment feature and charging connection of the base. The input device may be placed on the base in any direction in a horizontal plane and rotated into a charging position in which both alignment features are connected.

Claims

1. A user input device charging system, comprising:

a base configured for receiving a user input device and having a first alignment feature having a male type alignment feature extending upwardly from a top surface of the base, wherein the top surface of the base is generally planar, and wherein the base is void of structure that would prevent a user input device from being rotated about the first alignment feature;

a user input device configured with a planar bottom surface, wherein the user input device is supported on its bottom surface by the planar top surface of the base, and wherein the user input device includes a second alignment feature having a recess formed in the planar bottom surface of the user input device, the second alignment feature corresponding to the shape of the first alignment feature of the base and configured for mating with the first alignment feature when the second alignment feature is positioned over the first alignment feature and the planar bottom surface of the user input device is on the planar top surface of the base;

wherein when the first and second alignment features are mated the planar top surface of the base is horizontally coupled to the planar bottom surface of the user input device such that the input device is not prevented from being rotated about the first alignment feature; and

a charging connection further including a first charging element extending upwardly from the planar top surface of the base and a corresponding second charging element formed on the planar bottom surface of the user input device wherein the first and second charging elements are electrically connected when the first and second alignment features are mated and when the planar bottom surface of the user input device is horizontally coupled to the planar top surface of the base.

2. The input device charging system of claim 1, wherein the user input device is a mouse.

3. The user input device charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second alignment features includes a magnet.

4. The user input device charging system of claim 1, wherein the first and second alignment features are generally hemispherical.

5. The user input charging system of claim 1, further including a plurality of non-skid pads connected to a bottom surface of the base.

6. A user input device configured to rest horizontally on a supporting planar top surface of a base, comprising:

a housing having a contoured upper portion and a recess formed in a planar bottom surface of the housing, the recess being configured to receive a projection mating component of the base, wherein said projection mating component is a projection extending upwardly from the planar top surface of the base, such that the recess makes contact with the projection mating component when the recess of the housing is positioned over the projection mating component and the planar bottom surface of the housing is on the planar top surface of the base, and wherein the recess and the projection mating component are configured to allow rotation about the projection mating component;

a plurality of actuators;

a motion detecting system for determining relative movement of the user input device;

a charging element formed in the planar bottom surface of the user input device and configured to receive a mating charging element wherein the planar bottom surface of the user input device receives the mating charging element when the projection mating component is received within the recess of the user input device;

wherein the charging element is formed at the periphery of the bottom surface of the user input device and the recess is formed in the interior area of the bottom surface of the user input device.

7. The user input device of claim 6, wherein the mating component and the recess are generally hemispherical.

8. The user input device of claim 6, wherein the motion detecting system is an optical tracking system.

9. The user input device of claim 6, further including a battery configured to act as a power source.

10. The user input device of claim 9, wherein the battery is a rechargeable type battery.

11. The user input device of claim 6, wherein the charging elements include components for forming an electrical connection.

12. A user input device charging system, comprising:

a user input device having a planar bottom surface;

a base configured for receiving the planar bottom surface of the user input device in a horizontal position and configured for supporting the planar bottom surface of the user input device and including a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature, wherein the top surface of the base is generally planar, wherein the first alignment feature is a projection and the second alignment feature includes components for forming a charging connection, and wherein the base is void of structure that would prevent an input device from being rotated about the first alignment feature; and

said input device configured with a planar bottom surface for horizontal placement on the base and including a third alignment feature and a fourth alignment feature, wherein the third alignment feature is a recess formed in the planar bottom surface of the user input device and configured to mate with the first alignment feature when the third alignment feature is positioned over the first alignment feature and the planar bottom surface of the user input device is on the planar top surface of the base, wherein when the first and third alignment features are mated, the planar top surface of the place is horizontally coupled to the planar bottom surface of the user input device such that the user input device is not prevented from being rotated about the first alignment feature, and the fourth alignment feature is configured to electrically couple to the second alignment feature, wherein the fourth alignment feature includes components for forming a charging connection with the base wherein the second and fourth alignment features are electrically coupled when the first and third alignment features are coupled and when the planar bottom surface of the user input device is horizontally coupled to the planar top surface of the base.

13. The input device charging system of claim 12, wherein the input device is a mouse.

14. The input device charging system of claim 12, wherein the second alignment features are projections and the fourth alignment features are recesses.

15. The input charging device of claim 12, wherein the first and third alignment features are generally hemispherical.