AMBIDEXTROUS OPERATED COMPUTER SYSTEM

• US 20090174660A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: WONG, SHIH-FANG, LI, BING, WENG, YI-FENG, YUAN, YONG
• Application Number:
  US12/193,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer system operable by users of either handedness. The computer system includes a mouse and a computer connected together by interfaces. The mouse generates a mode-setting signal by a mode shift unit shifting between two selectable positions. The computer includes: a storage unit configured for storing a current operation mode of the mouse; a mouse interface configured for connecting the computer to the mouse and receiving the mode-shifting signal from the mouse; a driver unit configured for converting the mode-setting signal into a mode-shifting signal into a format which can be recognized by a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer; and a controller configured for updating the current operation mode in the storage unit from one of the left-handed operation mode and the right-handed mode to another of the two modes.

Claims

1. A computer system operable by persons either right-handed or left-handed, comprising a mouse and a computer connected to the mouse, the mouse comprising:

a mode shift unit having two selectable positions, one of which is a left-handed position representing a left-handed mode and another is a right-hand operation position representing a right-handed operation mode;

a microcontroller unit (MCU) configured for generating the mode-shifting signal in response to a position shifting of the mode shift unit between the two selectable positions; and

an interface configured for connecting the mouse to a computer and transmitting the mode-shifting signal to the computer; and

the computer comprising;

a storage unit configured for storing a current operation mode of the mouse, the current operation mode being one of a left-handed operation mode or a right-handed operation mode;

a mouse interface configured for connecting the computer to the mouse and receiving the mode-shifting signal from the mouse;

a central processing unit (CPU) capable of change the operation modes;

a driver unit configured for converting the mode-shifting signal into a format which can be recognized by the CPU of the computer; and

a controller configured for updating the current operation mode in the storage unit from one of the left-handed operation mode and the right-handed mode to another of the two modes.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the mouse further comprises a left-button and a right-button, the MCU is further configured for generating a left-button signal in response to a click from the left-button and generating a right-button signal in response to a click from the right-button, the MCU further is further configured for transmitting the left-button signal and the right-button signal to the computer via the interfaces.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the driver unit is further configured for obtaining the left-button signal and the right-button signal from the mouse.

4. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the CPU is further configured for executing functions corresponding to the left-button signal and the right-button signal transmitted from the driver unit based on the current operation mode.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the mode shift unit is a button which can be pressed down and released up to switch between the two selectable positions.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the mode shift unit is a knob which can be turned left and turned right to switch between the two selectable positions.

7. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the mouse further comprises a indicating lamp controlled by the MCU and capable of turning on or turning off for indicating the left-handed operation mode or the right-handed operation mode.

9. A mouse capable of shifting operation modes, comprising:

a mode shift unit having two selectable positions of which a left-handed position representing a left handed operation mode of the mouse and a right-hand position representing a right-handed operation mode of the mouse;

a microcontroller unit (MCU) configured for generating the mode-shifting signal in response to a position shifting of the mode shift unit between the two selectable positions; and

an interface configured for connecting the mouse to an external computer and transmitting the mode-shifting signal to the computer.

10. The mouse according to claim 9, further comprising a left-button and a right-button, the MCU being further configured for generating a left-button signal in response to a click from the left-button and generating a right-button signal in response to a click from the right-button;

the MCU being further configured for transmitting the left-button signal and the right-button signal to the computer via the interface.

11. The mouse according to claim 9, wherein the mode shift unit is a button which can be pressed down and released up to and from the two selectable positions.

12. The mouse according to claim 9, wherein the mode shift unit is a knob which can be turned left and turned right to and from the two selectable positions.

13. The mouse according to claim 9, further comprising a indicating lamp being capable of turning on or turning off for indicating the left-handed operation mode or the right-handed operation mode.

14. The mouse according to claim 9, wherein the interface is one selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus interface, a wireless interface, a BLUETOOTH interface and a PS/2 interface.

15. A method for shifting the current operation mode of a mouse, comprising:

generating a mode control signal according to a command outputted by a mode-setting unit;

sending the mode control signal to a computer;

obtaining and converting the mode control signal by the computer; and

changing the current operation control of the mouse using the computer.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising updating the current operation mode in a storage unit by the computer.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising saving and updating the current operation mode in a storage unit by the computer.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the operation mode is one selected from the group consisting of right-handed operation mode and right-handed operation mode.