EP0171747A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cordless intelligent mouse
Assignee: Metaphor Computer Systems Inc
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Filing: 1985-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A cordless mouse pointing device (16) communicates to a base station receiver (222) across free space. An infrared beam is modulated by a serial data output (188) containing information specifying the displacement and status of the mouse pointing device (16). The mouse pointing device (46) is battery-operated, but may optionally be connected to the base station with a cord (40). The cord (40) communicates data between the mouse (16) and the base station (12) as well as provides power from the base station (12) to recharge the batteries (86) of the mouse (16) and to power the mouse (16). A low-voltage sensing device (48) in the mouse (16) determines if the batteries (86) are nearly exhausted, this information being transmitted to the base station (12) to warn a human user. If the mouse pointing device (16) is not used (and its buttons (28, 30) are not pushed) for a predetermined period of time, the mouse (16) switches off many of its active circuits to preserve battery power (i.e., it "goes to sleep"). Before going to sleep, the mouse (16) transmits a sleep notification packet (188) to the base station (12) to inform the user that the mouse (16) has gone to sleep and must be awakened again (i.e., by depressing one of the mouse pointing device buttons 28, 30) before it can again be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Louie Hong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3259; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for sensing positional changes, said apparatus including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; and a wireless transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement across free space, said communication adapted to be received by a receiver located remotely to said housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for sensing positional changes, said apparatus including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; and a wireless transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement across free space, said communication adapted to be received by a receiver located remotely to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further including: a battery power supply for applying power to said sensor and said transmitter; and a power conserving circuit for disconnecting said power from at least one of said displacement sensor and said transmitter once a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time said housing was displaced with respect to said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said power conserving circuit produces a sleep signal when said predetermined time has elapsed; and said transmitter communicates said sleep signal to said receiver before said power conserving circuit disconnects said power.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said power conserving circuit reconnects said power to said one when said housing is manipulated by a user in a predetermined manner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said apparatus further includes at least one depressable button for producing a signal when manipulated by a user; and said power conserving circuit reconnects said power to said one in response to the signal produced by said button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said wireless transmitter includes: a device for producing a beam of radiation; and a modulator for modulating said beam of radiation with indicia of said sensed displacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said modulator includes: an oscillator for producing a periodic signal of a first predetermined frequency; a sub-carrier modulator for varying said periodic signal in response to said sensed displacement; and a main carrier oscillator for varying said beam in response to said periodic signal varied by said indicia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said apparatus further includes a sensor for monitoring the voltage produced by said battery means; and said transmitter communicates said monitored voltage to said receiver.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a sensor, responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface, for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a power supply for providing power to said sensor; a power conserving circuit responsive to said sensed displacement for disconnecting said power provided to said sensor once a predetermined time has elapsed since said housing has been displaced with respect to said surface; and a transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement to a computer, said transmitter also communicating indicia of the disconnection of said power supply from said sensor when said predetermined time has elapsed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a sensor, responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface, for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a power supply for providing power to said sensor; a power conserving circuit responsive to said sensed displacement for disconnecting said power provided to said sensor once a predetermined time has elapsed since said housing has been displaced with respect to said surface; and a transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement to a computer, said transmitter also communicating indicia of the disconnection of said power supply from said sensor when said predetermined time has elapsed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said power conserving circuit reconnects said power to said sensor once said housing is manipulated by a user in a predetermined manner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein: said apparatus further includes at least one depressable button for producing a signal when manipulated by a user; and said power conserving circuit reconnects said power to said sensing means in response to the manipulation of said button by a user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein: said apparatus further includes a low voltage sensor responsive to the output of said power supply for producing a signal when the level of said power supply falls below a predetermined level; and wherein said transmitter also communicates indicia of said signal produced by said low voltage sensing means to said computer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, said apparatus including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a power supply for providing power to said displacement sensor; a low voltage sensor means responsive to the output of said power supply for producing a signal when the level of the output of said power supply falls below a predetermined level; and a transmitter adapted for communicating said sensed displacement to a computer, said transmitter also communicating said signal produced by said low voltage sensor to said computer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, said apparatus including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a power supply for providing power to said displacement sensor; a low voltage sensor means responsive to the output of said power supply for producing a signal when the level of the output of said power supply falls below a predetermined level; and a transmitter adapted for communicating said sensed displacement to a computer, said transmitter also communicating said signal produced by said low voltage sensor to said computer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a first sensor, disposed in said housing and responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface, for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a depressable button for producing a signal when manipulated by a user; a second sensor, disposed in said housing, for sensing at least one parameter other than the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface and the manipulation of said button; and a transmitter adapted for communicating information from said housing to a computer, said transmitter initiating communication with said computer in response to any of the movement sensed by said first sensor, said manipulation of said button by a user and changes in said parameter sensed by said second sensor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for communicating positional changes to a computer, including: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a first sensor, disposed in said housing and responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface, for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a depressable button for producing a signal when manipulated by a user; a second sensor, disposed in said housing, for sensing at least one parameter other than the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface and the manipulation of said button; and a transmitter adapted for communicating information from said housing to a computer, said transmitter initiating communication with said computer in response to any of the movement sensed by said first sensor, said manipulation of said button by a user and changes in said parameter sensed by said second sensor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for processing information comprising: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a wireless transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement across free space; a receiver for receiving said communication produced by said transmitter; and an information processor for processing said sensed displacement received by said receiver.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for processing information comprising: a housing adapted to be movably disposed on a surface; a displacement sensor responsive to the movement of said housing over said surface for sensing the displacement of said housing with respect to said surface; a wireless transmitter for communicating said sensed displacement across free space; a receiver for receiving said communication produced by said transmitter; and an information processor for processing said sensed displacement received by said receiver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 15 further including: a display for producing a visual image; and a pointer, operatively connected to said display, for pointing to a position on said displayed image, said position on said displayed image determined in response to said received sensed displacement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 16 wherein said pointer includes: a circuit for effecting the display of a cursor at a predetermined position in the image produced by said display; and a circuit for setting said predetermined cursor position in response to said received sensed displacement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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