Multi-functional mouse device and related method capable of automatically switching operation modes

• US 9,904,381 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Ho, Shuo-Yen, Tai, Ming-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Karimi, Pegeman
• Application Number:
  US14/972,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

A method capable of automatically switching operation modes is applied to a multi-functional mouse device which has a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The multi-functional mouse device can move over a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other, and includes a coordinate positioning unit suitable for the second operation mode. The method includes detecting whether the coordinate positioning unit generates a first axial signal, detecting whether the coordinate positioning unit generates a second axial signal within a first predetermined period, determining whether continued time of the first axial signal and the second axial signal exceed over a second predetermined period, and determining whether the multi-functional mouse device is switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode according to a determination result.

Claims

1. A multi-functional mouse device capable of automatically switching operation modes, comprising:

a body adapted to move upon a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other;

a first button module disposed on the body and suitable for a first operation mode;

a second button module disposed on the body and suitable for a second operation mode, the second button module comprising;

a coordinate positioner adapted to detect coordinate variation of the body and to accordingly generate a first axial signal and/or a second axial signal; and

an operating processor disposed inside the body and electrically connected to the first button module and the second button module, the operating processor being switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode while the coordinate variation conforms to a triggering condition, wherein the coordinate positioner simultaneously generates the first axial signal and the second axial signal within a predetermined period, and the operating processor determines whether the coordinate variation conforms to the triggering condition.

2. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the operating processor confirms that the coordinate variation conforms to the triggering condition while a continued period of the first axial signal and/or the second axial signal exceeds over a predetermined period.

3. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, further comprising:

a mode switching button disposed on the body and electrically connected to the operating processor, the operating processor being adapted to alternatively switch the first operation mode and the second operation mode according to trigger of the mode switching button.

4. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the operating processor is switched from the second operation mode to the first operation mode while any button of the first button module is triggered, and the operating processor is switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode while any button of the second button module is triggered.

5. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the second button module further comprises a roller unit, the operating processor outputs an operating signal corresponding to rotation of the roller unit while the foresaid rotation exceeds over a predetermined degree.

6. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the multi-functional mouse device further comprises a first communication module and a second communication module electrically connected to the operating processor, the first button module and the second button module respectively utilize the first communication module and the second communication module to output corresponding operating signals.

7. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 6, wherein the first operation mode is a remote-controlling mode, the second operation mode is a mouse mode, the first communication module is an infrared communication module, and the second communication module is a radio frequency communication module.

8. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the first surface is moved upon the plane formed by the first axis and the second axis perpendicular to each other, the first button module and the second button module are disposed on the second surface.

9. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the body is divided into a first area and a second area adjacent by each other, a coordinate positioner is disposed on the first area, and the second area is a handle of the multi-functional mouse device.

10. The multi-functional mouse device of claim 1, wherein the multi-functional mouse device is utilized to alternatively control a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the operating processor is adapted to switch to the second operation mode to control the second electronic device according to an operating signal of the second button module.

11. A method capable of automatically switching operation modes and being applied to a multi-functional mouse device having a remote-controlling mode and a mouse mode, the multi-functional mouse device being adapted to move upon a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other and having a coordinate positioner suitable for the mouse mode, the method comprising:

detecting whether the coordinate positioner generates a position signal, the position signal comprising a first axial signal and a second axial signal;

determining whether a continued period of the position signal exceeds over a predetermined period; and

switching the multi-functional mouse device from the remote-controlling mode to the mouse mode while the second axial signal is generated within a first predetermined period after generation of the first axial signal and the continued period of the second axial signal exceeds over a second predetermined period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-functional mouse device is switched into the mouse mode while the first axial signal and the second axial signal are generated within the first predetermined period and the continued period exceeds over the second predetermined period.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-functional mouse device further comprises a mode switching button, the method further comprises:

switching the remote-controlling mode and the mouse mode alternatively according to trigger of the mode switching button.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-functional mouse device further comprises at least two button modules respectively suitable for the remote-controlling mode and the mouse mode, the method further comprises:

determining whether any button of one of the at least two button modules is triggered; and

switching the multi-functional mouse device to the remote-controlling mode or the mouse mode according to a corresponding button module whereon the triggered button is disposed.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-functional mouse device further comprises a roller unit, the method further comprises:

detecting rotation of the roller unit;

determining whether the rotation of the roller unit exceeds over a predetermined degree; and

determining whether to output an operating signal corresponding to the foresaid rotation according to a determination result.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the position signal comprises a first axial signal and a second axial signal, the multi-functional mouse device is switched from the remote-controlling mode to the mouse mode while the second axial signal is generated within another predetermined period after generation of the first axial signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the multi-functional mouse device is set on the remote-controlling mode while the first axial signal and the second axial signal are not generated within the another predetermined period, and the multi-functional mouse device is set on the mouse mode while the first axial signal and the second axial signal are generated within the another predetermined period.

18. A multi-functional mouse device capable of automatically switching operation modes, comprising:

a body adapted to move upon a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other;

a first button module disposed on the body and suitable for a first operation mode;

a second button module disposed on the body and suitable for a second operation mode, the second button module comprising;

a coordinate positioner adapted to detect coordinate variation of the body and to accordingly generate a first axial signal and/or a second axial signal; and

an operating processor disposed inside the body and electrically connected to the first button module and the second button module, the operating processor being switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode while the coordinate variation conforms to a triggering condition, wherein the operating processor confirms that the coordinate variation conforms to the triggering condition while the coordinate positioner simultaneously generates the first axial signal and the second axial signal within a first predetermined period, and a continued period of the first axial signal and/or the second axial signal exceeds over a second predetermined period.

19. A multi-functional mouse device capable of automatically switching operation modes, comprising:

a body adapted to move upon a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other;

a first button module disposed on the body and suitable for a first operation mode;

a second button module disposed on the body and suitable for a second operation mode, the second button module comprising;

a coordinate positioner adapted to detect coordinate variation of the body and to accordingly generate a first axial signal and/or a second axial signal; and

an operating processor disposed inside the body and electrically connected to the first button module and the second button module, the operating processor being switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode while the coordinate variation conforms to a triggering condition;

wherein the operating processor is switched from the second operation mode to the first operation mode while any button of the first button module is triggered, and the operating processor is switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode while any button of the second button module is triggered.

20. A method capable of automatically switching operation modes and being applied to a multi-functional mouse device having a remote-controlling mode and a mouse mode, the multi-functional mouse device being adapted to move upon a plane formed by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other and having a coordinate positioner suitable for the mouse mode, the method comprising:

detecting whether the coordinate positioner generates a position signal, the position signal comprising a first axial signal and a second axial signal;

determining whether a continued period of the position signal exceeds over a predetermined period; and

switching the multi-functional mouse device from the remote-controlling mode to the mouse mode while the continued period of at least one of the first axial signal and the second axial signal exceeds over the predetermined period.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the multi-functional mouse device is set on the remote-controlling mode while the continued period does not exceed over the predetermined period, and the multi-functional mouse device is set on the mouse mode while the continued period exceeds over the predetermined period.