Power supply for a computer peripheral device which positions a cursor on a computer display
First Claim
1. In a computer peripheral device for positioning a cursor on a computer display, said device including means for generating X-Y information, said device comprising:
- processing means for converting said X-Y information to a serial format;
an interface having a plurality of control and data lines of a general purpose peripheral port of a host computer, said interface including a data line coupled to said processing means; and
means, coupled to at least one of said control and data lines, for providing power to said generating and processing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved peripheral device for a computer wherein the improvement comprises circuitry which derives power for the peripheral device from the control and data signal lines interconnecting the peripheral device to the computer. Preferably, the peripheral device is a mouse which uses a microprocessor to translate signals received from a pair of encoders. Power for the microprocessor is derived from a pair of control lines through the use of a voltage reference setting zener diode, a polarity maintaining diode and a current limiting resistor. For an RS-232-type interface, the TXD signal is used for ground and the RTS signal is used for positive voltage. The computer is programmed to provide a positive signal on the RTS line and a negative signal on the TXD line.
180 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a computer peripheral device for positioning a cursor on a computer display, said device including means for generating X-Y information, said device comprising:
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processing means for converting said X-Y information to a serial format; an interface having a plurality of control and data lines of a general purpose peripheral port of a host computer, said interface including a data line coupled to said processing means; and means, coupled to at least one of said control and data lines, for providing power to said generating and processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer mouse peripheral device, comprising:
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means for generating X-Y data based on movement of said mouse in an X-Y plane; processing means for converting said X-Y data to a serial format; an interface having a plurality of control and data lines of a general purpose peripheral port of a host computer, said interface including a data line coupled to said means for processing data; means, coupled to said plurality of control or data lines, for providing power to said means for processing data from said plurality of control or data lines, wherein at least one control or data line has a positive predetermined state and at least one control or data line has a negative predetermined state; and means for maintaining said power at a predetermined polarity.
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10. A computer system comprising:
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a computer mouse peripheral device, including information means for generating and encoding X-Y information based on the location of said mouse peripheral device relative to an initial position; a general purpose peripheral interface having a plurality of control and data lines; means, coupled to a pair of said control or data lines for providing power to said generating and encoding means; a host computer coupled to said general purpose peripheral interface; means, coupled to said general purpose peripheral interface control or data lines, for placing a predetermined voltage thereon; and a plurality of signal lines coupling said general purpose peripheral interface to said host computer.
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11. An improved device for positioning a cursor on a computer display, said device coupled to a general purpose peripheral port of a computer and having serial data lines and a plurality of control lines, said device comprising:
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first means for detecting movement of the device in a first direction and generating a first signal in response thereto; second means for detecting movement of the device in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and generating a second signal in response thereto; processing means coupled to said first and second means for detecting movement, said processing means for converting the signals generated by said first and second means for detecting movement into a serial data stream, said processing means having a power supply input and a means for outputting said serial data stream to said serial data lines of said peripheral port; and means for deriving power from at least one of said serial data lines or control lines of said peripheral port, said means for deriving power coupled to said power input of said processing means. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An improved device for positioning a cursor on a computer display, said device coupled to a general purpose peripheral port of a computer having serial data lines and a plurality of control lines, said device comprising;
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means for detecting movement of the device in an X-Y plane and generating a signal in response thereto; processing means coupled to said means for detecting movement, said processing means for converting the signal generated by said means for detecting movement into a serial data stream, said processing means having a power supply input and a means for outputting said serial data stream to at least one of said serial data lines of said general purpose peripheral port; and means for deriving power from at least one of said serial data lines or control lines of said general purpose peripheral port, said means for deriving power coupled to said power supply input of said processing means.
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14. An improved device for positioning a cursor on a computer display, said device coupled to a general purpose peripheral port of a computer and having serial data lines and a plurality of control lines, said device comprising:
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means for detecting movement of the device in an X-Y plane and generating a signal in response thereto; converting means coupled to said means for detecting movement, said converting for converting the signal generated by said means for detecting movement into a serial data stream, said converting means having a power supply input and a means for outputting said serial data stream to said serial data lines of said general purpose peripheral port; and means for deriving power from at least one of said serial data lines or control lines of said general purpose peripheral port, said means for deriving power coupled to said power supply input of said converting means.
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15. A method for positioning a cursor on a computer screen with a mouse, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling the mouse to a general purpose serial port of a computer, said serial port having control and data lines; generating an X-Y signal in response to movement of said mouse in an X-Y plane with a generating means; converting said X-Y signal to a serial format with a converting means; outputting said X-Y signal to said computer through said general purpose serial port; converting said X-Y signal to a X-Y position on a computer screen; and displaying said X-Y position with a cursor on a computer screen. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification