COMPUTER MOUSE WITH VIRTUAL KEYS

• US 20110163959A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrex Technology Company Limited (Best Elite Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sunrex Technology Company Limited (Best Elite Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: LIU, YUNG-LUNG
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A computer mouse in one embodiment includes an arcuate cover comprising a plurality of projections on a top surface; a capacitance trigger assembly aligned with the projections thereabove and comprising a flexible arcuate first capacitive film and a flexible arcuate second capacitive film therebelow; a printed circuit board disposed under the capacitance trigger assembly and comprising a photodetector array on an underside and a microprocessor; and a base releasably secured to the cover and comprising a light guide. In response to a touch of the projection, a button clicking action is triggered.

Claims

1. A computer mouse comprising:

an arcuate cover comprising a plurality of projections on a top surface;

a capacitance trigger assembly aligned with the projections thereabove and comprising a flexible arcuate first capacitive film and a flexible arcuate second capacitive film therebelow;

a printed circuit board disposed under the capacitance trigger assembly and comprising photodetector means on an underside and a microprocessor; and

a base releasably secured to the cover and comprising light guide means,

wherein in response to a touch of the projection, a button clicking action is triggered.

2. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the projections have a plurality of oblique lines or curves to form a guiding pattern.

3. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the first capacitive film comprises a plurality of rows of a plurality of first sensors and the second capacitive film comprises a plurality of rows of a plurality of second sensors, wherein the second sensors are aligned with the first upper sensors which are aligned with the projections, and wherein in response to touching the projection, a capacitance of the capacitance trigger assembly is changed to trigger the button clicking action.

4. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the photodetector means comprises an LED (light-emitting diode) as a light source and a photosensor.

5. The computer mouse of claim 4, wherein the base further comprises an opening aligned with the light guide means thereabove so that light emitted by the LED impinges onto a supporting surface through the light guide means and the opening, the light is reflected by the supporting surface to reach the photosensor through the opening and the light guide means, in response to the light impinging the photosensor, the photosensor creates an output, in response to the output from the photosensor, the photodetector means generates a cursor control output, the cursor control output is translated into a motion of a cursor on a display of a computer by the microprocessor.

6. A computer mouse comprising:

an arcuate cover comprising a plurality of virtual keys on a top surface;

a capacitance trigger assembly aligned with the virtual keys thereabove and comprising a flexible arcuate first capacitive film and a flexible arcuate second capacitive film therebelow;

a printed circuit board disposed under the capacitance trigger assembly and comprising photodetector means on an underside and a microprocessor; and

a base releasably secured to the cover and comprising light guide means,

wherein the virtual keys comprises a plurality of characters and a plurality of function keys printed thereon; and

wherein in response to a touch of the virtual key, a key pressing action is triggered.

7. The computer mouse of claim 6, wherein the virtual keys are formed of an optical transmissive material and the capacitance trigger assembly is formed of an optical transmissive material.

8. The computer mouse of claim 6, wherein the characters and the function keys are formed of an optical transmissive material and the capacitance trigger assembly is formed of an optical transmissive material.

9. The computer mouse of claim 6, wherein the first capacitive film comprises a plurality of rows of a plurality of first sensors and the second capacitive film comprises a plurality of rows of a plurality of second sensors, wherein the second sensors are aligned with the first upper sensors which are aligned with the virtual keys, and wherein in response to touching the virtual key, a capacitance of the capacitance trigger assembly is changed to trigger the key pressing action.

10. The computer mouse of claim 9, wherein the characters and the function keys are aligned with the first and second sensors therebelow.

11. The computer mouse of claim 6, wherein the photodetector means comprises an LED (light-emitting diode) as a light source and a photosensor.

12. The computer mouse of claim 11, wherein the base further comprises an opening aligned with the light guide means thereabove so that light emitted by the LED impinges onto a supporting surface through the light guide means and the opening, the light is reflected by the supporting surface to reach the photosensor through the opening and the light guide means, in response to the light impinging the photosensor, the photosensor creates an output, in response to the output from the photosensor, the photodetector means generates a cursor control output, the cursor control output is translated into a motion of a cursor on a display of a computer by the microprocessor.