Peripheral pointing devices and methods for manufacturing the same

• US 8,319,730 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sesto, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US12/360,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/184, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 744/69, 744/71.R, 744/71.XY
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of peripheral pointing devices and methods for manufacturing the same are generally described herein. In at least one embodiment, a peripheral device comprises a housing, one or more buttons at a first side of the housing, a displacement tracker at a second side of the housing, a keypad comprising keys at the second side of the housing; and a keypress restrictor coupled to the housing. Other examples, embodiments, and related methods are further described below.

Claims

1. A peripheral device comprising:

a housing;

one or more buttons at a first side of the housing;

a displacement tracker at the first side or a second side of the housing;

a controller comprising buttons at the second side of the housing; and

a controller restrictor coupled to the housing.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the first side of the housing is located substantially opposite to the second side of the housing.

3. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the controller restrictor comprises at least one of;

a surface at the second side of the housing;

one or more rails configured to protrude past the buttons of the controller;

a switch configured to set the controller to at least one of a deactivated mode or an active mode;

or

a tilt sensor configured to;

enable the controller when the second side of the peripheral device substantially faces a first direction; and

disable the controller when the second side of the peripheral device substantially faces a second direction.

4. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the first side comprises an ergonomic shape with respect to the palm of a hand; and

the second side is substantially flat.

5. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises an ergonomic shape configured to elevate the controller at an ergonomic view angle when the first side is laid over a flat surface.

6. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the displacement tracker comprises at least one of;

a trackball;

a roller ball;

an optical sensor;

or

a laser sensor.

7. The peripheral device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display at the second side of the housing; and

a calculator module coupled to at least one of the display or the controller;

wherein;

the calculator module is configured to generate an output based on an input to the controller; and

the display is configured to display the output from the calculator module.

8. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

an outermost surface of the buttons of the controller is recessed relative to a surface of the second side of the housing.

9. The peripheral device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver within the housing and coupled to the one or more buttons and the displacement tracker;

wherein the wireless transceiver comprises at least one of;

a cellular transceiver;

a personal area network transceiver;

or

a radio frequency transceiver.

10. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the buttons of the controller are aligned to be thumb-actionable when the peripheral device is handheld.

11. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein:

the controller comprises a touch-sensitive screen; and

the buttons are displayed at the touch-sensitive screen.

12. The peripheral device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a scroll pad at the first side of the housing;

or

one or more lighted indicators at the second side of the housing.

13. A method for manufacturing a peripheral device, the method comprising:

providing a housing;

positioning one or more controls at a first side of the housing;

positioning a displacement tracker at the first side or a second side of the housing;

providing a controller with buttons coupled to the second side of the housing; and

providing a controller restricted configured to restrict actuation of one or more of the buttons;

wherein;

the one or more controls comprise at least one of;

a right button;

a left button;

or

a scroll actuator;

the controller restrictor comprises at least one of;

a surface at the second side of the housing;

one or more rails configured to protrude past the buttons of the controller;

a switch configured to control activation of the controller;

or

a tilt sensor configured to;

enable the controller when the second side of the peripheral device faces a first direction; and

disable the controller when the second side of the peripheral device faces a second direction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first side is located substantially opposite to the second side.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a display at the second side of the housing; and

providing a calculator module coupled to the display and the controller;

wherein;

the calculator module is configured to generate an output based on an input to the controller; and

the display is configured to display the output from the calculator module.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a wireless transceiver configured to couple the peripheral device to an electronic device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

providing the controller comprises aligning the buttons to be thumb-actionable when the peripheral device is handheld.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a touch-sensitive screen at the second side of the housing;

wherein providing the controller comprises displaying the buttons at the touch-sensitive screen.

19. A mouse comprising:

a housing;

a left mouse button and a right mouse button located at a first side of the housing;

a displacement tracker coupled to the housing;

a numeric keypad comprising keys at a second side of the housing;

a keypress restrictor; and

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate the mouse;

wherein;

the keypress restrictor comprises at least one of;

a surface at the second side of the housing;

one or more rails at the second side of the housing and configured to protrude past the keys of the numeric keypad;

a switch configured to control activation of the numeric keypad;

or

a tilt sensor configured to;

activate the numeric keypad when the second side of the mouse faces a first direction; and

deactivate the numeric keypad when the second side of the mouse faces a second direction;

the displacement tracker comprises at least one of;

a trackball;

a roller ball;

an optical sensor;

or

a laser sensor;

the wireless transceiver comprises at least one of;

a cellular transceiver;

a personal area network transceiver;

or

a radio frequency transceiver; and

the keys of the numeric keypad are aligned to be thumb-actionable when the mouse is handheld.

20. The mouse of claim 19, further comprising:

a display at the second side of the housing; and

a calculator module coupled to the display and the numeric keypad;

wherein;

the calculator module is configured to generate an output based on an input to the numeric keypad; and

the display is configured to display the output from the calculator module.

21. The mouse of claim 19, wherein:

the numeric keypad comprises a touch-sensitive screen; and

the keys are displayed at the touch-sensitive screen.

22. The mouse of claim 19, wherein:

the left and right mouse buttons and the displacement tracker are activated when the numeric keypad is deactivated; and

the left and right mouse buttons and the displacement tracker are deactivated when the numeric keypad is activated.