Input device for a computer system

• US 7,719,517 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: De Leon, Ceasar, Larsen, Glen C., Bathiche, Steven N., Bohn, David D., Oliver, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): SITTA, GRANT
• Application Number:
  US11/157,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/163, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks

Abstract

A peripheral input device having a body configured to be stored within a housing of a computer device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a wireless input device is configured to be recharged within the housing. Further aspects of the invention relate to an input device configured to operatively connect to underutilized ports of a computer system. In one embodiment, the input device operatively connects to a PCMCIA port of a computer. Yet further aspects of the invention relate to an input device having an expandable body, wherein the body may be configured to have an increased surface area upon expansion of the body.

Claims

1. A peripheral input device for a computing system having a housing, the input device comprising:

a body comprising;

a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width and configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system, and

at least one first extendable protrusion designed to extend, upon removal of the input device from the housing of the computing system, from the bottom of the input device in order to elevate the input device wherein the body comprises an expandable body comprising at least one second extendable protrusion extending from the top of the body, the at least one second extendable protrusion comprising at least one optics component, wherein a distance between the optics component and the bottom of the body increases upon expansion of the body;

a tracking mechanism, wherein the tracking mechanism is an optical system configured to detect movement of the bottom of the body over a surface, wherein the optical system comprises;

a light source for emitting light,

a light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source, wherein at least a portion of the light within the light pipe is projected onto the tracking surface,

at least one first microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light reflected from the tracking surface,

at least one second microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light redirected from the at least one first microlens array, wherein the at least one second microlens array is configured to constrain an optical diameter of the redirected light,

an aperture plate located between the at least one first microlens array and the at least one second microlens array, wherein the received light redirected from the at least one first microlens array is focused through the aperture plate to the second microlens array, and

a light sensor in optical communication with the at least one second microlens array; and

an interface for interfacing the computing system.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the length of the body is not greater than 86 mm.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing of the computing system is a PCMCIA slot.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a PCMCIA port of the computer.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication system.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a computer port that is external to the computer housing.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the body of the input device is configured to slidably engage with the housing.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the expandable body is configured to have an increased surface area upon expansion of the body.

17. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following:

the at least one first microlens array and the at least one second microlens array comprise optical material having a gradient surface.

9. An input device for a computing system having a housing, wherein the input device is configured to move over a tracking surface, the input device comprising:

a body comprising;

a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width and configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system, and

a plurality of extendable protrusions, wherein at least one first extendable protrusion of the plurality of extendable protrusions is designed to;

retract from the bottom of the input device upon removal of the input device from the housing of the computing system, wherein the at least one first extendable protrusion employs an alternating button switch mechanism for retraction, and

elevate the input device wherein the body comprises an expandable body comprising at least one second extendable protrusion of the plurality of extendable protrusions, the at least one second extendable protrusion extending from the top of the body, the at least one second extendable protrusion comprising at least one optics component, wherein a distance between the optics component and the bottom of the body increases upon expansion of the body;

an optical navigation system comprising;

a light source for emitting light,

a light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source, wherein at least a portion of the light within the light pipe is projected onto the tracking surface,

at least one first microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light reflected from the tracking surface,

at least one second microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light redirected from the at least one first microlens array, wherein the at least one second microlens array is configured to constrain an optical diameter of the redirected light,

an aperture plate located between the at least one first microlens array and the at least one second microlens array, wherein the received light redirected from the at least one first microlens array is focused through the aperture plate to the second microlens array, and

a light sensor in optical communication with the at least one second microlens array; and

an interface for interfacing with the computing system.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the at least one microlens array is in rigid communication with the light pipe.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the length of the body is not greater than 86 mm.

12. The input device of claim 9, wherein the computer system housing is a PCMCIA slot.

13. The input device of claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to electronically communicate with a PCMCIA port of the computer.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication system.

18. The input device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the following:

the at least one first microlens array and the at least one second microlens array comprise optical material having a gradient surface.

15. An input device for a computing system having a housing, the input device comprising:

a body comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the top and the bottom are not greater than 5 mm in height and 54 mm in width body is configured to be stored within the housing of the computing system, wherein the body of the input device is configured to;

slidably engage with the housing, and

have extendable protrusions designed to extend from the bottom, wherein the extendable protrusions are positioned within the body when the input device is stored within the housing of the computing system and are designed to extend 8 mm from the input device upon removal of the input device from the housing of the computing system, the extendable protrusions comprising one of the following;

wheels and sliders;

a tracking mechanism, wherein the tracking mechanism has a surface configured to directly receive an input from a user;

an interface for interfacing the computing system, wherein the interface comprises a wireless communication system;

a rechargeable power source, wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to recharge when the input device is stored within the housing of the computing system;

an optical navigation system comprising;

a light source for emitting light,

at least one first microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light reflected from the tracking surface,

at least one second microlens array located within the body and positioned to receive light redirected from the at least one first microlens array, wherein the at least one second microlens array is configured to constrain an optical diameter of the redirected light,

an aperture plate located between the at least one first microlens array and the at least one second microlens array, wherein the received light redirected from the at least one first microlens array is focused through the aperture plate to the second microlens array, and

a light sensor in optical communication with the at least one second microlens array; and

at least one user-selectable input mechanism.

16. The input device of claim 15, wherein the tracking mechanism surface is configured to directly receive the input selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and combinations thereof.