Patent ID: 6321281
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A pointing device comprising:a pointing device operating unit for producing an operation signal every time said pointing device is operated:a compatibility function signal producing circuit for producing a signal indicative of an original compatibility function of said pointing device in response to the operation signal produced from said pointing device operating unit;an additional function signal producing circuit for changing said operation signal produced from said pointing device operating unit into a signal indicative of an additional function to thereby produce an additional function signal;a selector for selectively supplying any one of said compatibility function signal produced from said compatibility function signal producing circuit and said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit to a computer main body connectable of said pointing device; anda controller for monitoring a protocol selector signal derived from said computer main body and for controlling said selector to selectively supply at least one of said compatibility function signal produced from said compatibility function signal producing circuit and said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit to said computer main body, said additional function signal produced from said additional function signal producing circuit being supplied to said computer main body in such a case that said protocol selector signal satisfies a condition under which an operation mode is changed into an additional function mode where the additional function of said pointing device is executed.