Dead front mouse

• US 7,817,136 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Lee, Jason, Scholder, Francois, Shaft, David, White, Niall
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Srilakshmi K
• Application Number:
  US11/356,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 45156-184
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A mouse configured to display an icon including a top housing that is semi-opaque; and an icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source and an icon plate. The light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the top housing. The icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing if the light source is not lighted.

Claims

1. A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:

a top housing that is semi-opaque;

an icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source and an icon plate, wherein the light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the top housing, and wherein the icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing if the light source is not lighted; and

a processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source; and

wherein;

the top housing includes a control button and the icon indicator is disposed under the control button,

in a lighted state of the light source the icon indicator indicates a first function of the control button, and

in non-lighted state of the light source the control button has a second function different from the first function.

2. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the top housing has a transmittance of about five percent or less.

3. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the icon indicator further includes an icon plate on which the icon is disposed.

4. The mouse of claim 3, wherein the icon is a transparent portion of the icon plate and a portion of the icon plate surrounding the icon is substantially not transparent.

5. The mouse of claim 3, wherein the icon is a substantially not transparent portion of the icon plate and a portion of the icon plate surrounding the icon is transparent.

6. The mouse of claim 3, wherein the icon plate includes a coating with the icon formed in the coating.

7. The mouse of claim 6, wherein the coating is disposed on a top surface or a bottom surface of the icon plate.

8. The mouse of claim 7, wherein the coating is paint.

9. The mouse of claim 8, wherein the icon is laser etched in the paint.

10. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the icon indicator further includes a light pipe disposed between the light source and the icon plate.

11. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the top housing includes at least one control button.

12. A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:

a top housing including a set of control button, wherein the top housing is semi-opaque; and

an icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source;

an icon plate;

a light pipe configured to direct light from the light source to the icon plate;

a light shield configured to block light traveling away from the icon plate; and

a processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source,

wherein;

the top housing includes a control button and the icon plate is disposed under the control button,

if the light source is lighted, the light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the control button to indicate a first function of the control button, and

if the light source is not lighted the icon plate and the icon are substantially not visible through the top housing and the control button has a second function different from the first function.

13. The mouse of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to send the control signal to the light source to light the light source in response to a received command from computer code executed by a computer that the mouse is configured to control.

14. The mouse of claim 12, further comprising a motion detector configured to control a function associated with the icon if the icon is lighted and if the mouse is moved in a predetermined motion.

15. The mouse of claim 14, wherein the icon is a volume icon.

16. The mouse of claim 15, wherein the predetermined motion is up and/or down.

17. The mouse of claim 12, wherein the light source is laterally disposed with respect to the icon plate and the light pipe is configured to direct the light laterally from the light source and the icon plate.

18. The mouse of claim 12, wherein the light pipe includes diffusing particles to defuse the light in the light pipe.

19. A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:

left and right control buttons;

a middle control button disposed between the left and right control buttons;

a switch disposed under the middle control button and configured to be activated if the middle control button is pressed;

a touch pad disposed under the middle control button and configured to detect movement of an object on a top surface of the middle control button;

at least one icon indicator including a light source both disposed under at least a given one of the left, right, and middle control buttons, wherein the icon indicator is configured to be lighted by the light source to project an icon onto an under surface of the given control button under which the icon indicator is located to project the icon through the given control button; and

a processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source,

wherein;

if the light source is lighted, the light source is configured to light the icon indicator to display an icon through the given control button to indicate a first function of the control button, and

if the light source is not lighted the icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing and the control button has a second function different from the first function.

20. The mouse of claim 19, further comprising a haptic feedback device configured to provide haptic feedback if a the touch pad detects movement of the object.

21. The mouse of claim 20, wherein the haptic feedback include vibration.

22. The mouse of claim 21, wherein the haptic feedback device is a vibration device.

23. The mouse of claim 19, wherein the icon indicator includes:

an icon plate that has the icon formed thereon or therein,

a light pipe configured to direct light from the light source to the icon plate, and

a light shield configured to block light traveling away from the icon plate.