Abstract:
The present invention discloses an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprising a MCU; a wired transmission module, to connect to the appliances and to receive the energies under wired conditions; a battery set, to receive and to store the energies from the interface; a finger control signal module, to provide the button signal instead of the motion of the virtual unit control apparatus; a wireless transmission module, to transmit the signal to the appliances under wireless conditions; and an appliance switching module, to switch the different appliances and their operating systems to be controlled. The integrated wire/wireless virtual unit control apparatus can be charged via wire, operated under wired/wireless conditions, and integrated with multiple operating modes. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus can be held and used by one hand and it can copy the codes of function keys from a television remote controller. In some embodiments, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises a display for displaying the information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 98119414, filed Jun. 10, 2009, and Taiwan Application Serial Number 98142131, filed Dec. 9, 2009, the disclosure of both Taiwan Applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its&#39; entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to the field of wireless virtual unit control apparatus and, more particularly, to an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus including multiple controlling modes. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0003]    With the development of technology, daily used digital (or some mobile devices) including not only personal computers (PCs) and notebooks but also a plurality of other mobile devices such as netbooks (or UMPCs), mobile phones, electronic dictionaries, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPSs), digital mobile audio devices, mobile gaming devices, etc. Most of the above devices are able to be connected to the internet via wireless fidelity (WiFi), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA, or 3G), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA, or 3.5G), etc. The devices can also access to the internet via broad band network by the wireless access points (APs) set in a household environment for providing functions of surfing the web, checking the web maps, using instant messaging services, etc. In addition, the above devices own mobility and provide additional functions such as playing games, listening music, checking electronic dictionaries, taking pictures and videos, etc. However, the mobile devices are often limited to have a relative smaller display screen and less choice of inputting ways by the restriction of their relative smaller size and weight. Conventionally, pushing buttons is the most general way for users to input data into the mobile devices, but the number of button are often insufficient for meeting the corresponding number of functions provided by the mobile devices. Though touch panel display, being popular recently, is able to provide a plurality of virtual keys and thus to increase diversity and convenience of inputting ways, the poor accuracy provided by the touch panel display is not generally been accepted. Especially when it is applied to an appliance having small-sized display, the events of touching the wrong positions (touching mistakenly) by the user are always happened with touch panel display. Handling the touch panel display correctly is getting even tougher when the user is walking or taking vehicles. Consequently, it should soon be popular to make each of the mobile devices have a cursor and control the cursor by a mouse device. The United State Patent Publication 2006/0019706 provides a mobile phone with a mouse device for improving the degree of convenience for controlling the mobile phone. However, the mouse device is attached to the mobile phone, and thus the controlling interface is not as convenient as a general wireless mouse. Further, the above mouse device can not be shared with other digital devices for convenience. 
         [0004]    Hence, if the conventional wireless mouse for a PC can be modified and applied to the above digital devices, the plurality of digital devices can be controlled in turn by only one single mouse for saving additional costs and ease of carrying other mouse devices. Thus, controlling the digital devices can be as convenient as controlling a PC by a wireless mouse. 
         [0005]    However, the sensor of a conventional wire or wireless mouse is often implemented as a ball module, an optical module, or a laser module, and each of them is required to be operated upon a supporting surface such as a mouse pad or a desktop. When the surface is not acquirable such as the mouse is in the air, the above-mentioned mouse should not be operated effectively. Therefore, it is needed to have a modified wireless mouse being able to be operated both upon the surface and in the air while accurately controlling the plurality of digital devices. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,605 provides a mouse that can be manipulated in the air for controlling the cursor in the screen by moving the wrist or the arm of the user. However, the mouse is not well suited to the conditions operated with small-sized mobile digital devices, because small-sized mobile digital devices are often used in the environment with insufficient room for freely moving the wrist or the arm of the user. So the controlling mode requiring large physical movements is not such proper for the above-mentioned situation. Further, dealing with smaller devices or manipulating with higher requirement of accuracy seems to have more shortcomings for the solution of touch panel screen. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, in consideration of the consumption of electric power, the United State Patent Publication 2006/0232555 provides a wired/wireless mouse that can be connected and charged by USB or PS/2 interface. However, the wired/wireless mouse does not provide a solution to solve the problems and shortcomings mentioned above. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is needed to have an integrated wired/wireless mouse including the advantages of the prior arts and adding new elements for mending the inconvenience on manipulation. The user can use the mouse without existing of any supporting surfaces and manipulate with any kind of postures for avoiding discomfort caused by maintaining a stationary posture while manipulating and lowering the difficulty of manipulation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus. 
         [0009]    In a first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one wired connecting interface such as USB or PS/2 to be connected to at least one appliance. When connected, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is supplied with electric power, the battery set is charged, and the control signals are transmitted. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one wireless transmission module, to supply power by the battery set and transmit control signals under wireless conditions. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one gyro module, to generate movement signals according to user&#39;s movement in the air and to control the appliance according to the movement signals for providing a way of control upon intuition. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one finger control module, to generate movement signals according to movements of user&#39;s finger and to control the appliance according to the movement signals for providing a way of control with relative higher sensitivity and stability. The finger control module provides a way of control not being necessary to place on a supporting surface and to sway with big movement, and thus it is a preferred solution for people with, for example, disabilities. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the embodiments, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one signal selection module for selecting one of the above-mentioned movement signals to control the appliance. The integration of different control mode provides the user freedom to select a most suitable control mode according to the environment at the time. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one appliance switching module, to switch the different appliances and their operating systems to be controlled. The appliances include digital devices which can be controlled by a mouse, such as personal computers (PCs), notebooks, netbooks (or UMPCs), mobile phones, electronic dictionaries, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPSs), digital mobile audio devices, mobile gaming devices, etc. Accordingly, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus can switch among the different appliances and their different operating systems. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one auto-detecting module for automatically detecting the appliances matching the codes of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus or the appliances compatible with the control of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one television remote controller chip and one infra-red emission module, to have the function of copying essential controller keys such as channel selecting, volume adjusting, power turning on/off, etc., and it becomes a mobile backup television remote controller. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus comprises at least one display screen such as liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen for displaying related information of the operation of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus. 
         [0018]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, a method of using an integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus is provided. The method provides functions of changing the default speed of movement of virtual articles on application devices, to fit the needs when users using the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus. 
         [0019]    The aspects and features of the present invention are detailed in the following description of the embodiments and the accompanying figures for providing thoroughly understanding of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates the functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 2 , and  2 A illustrates another functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C illustrates the perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates another perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C illustrates the perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates the functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless mouse according to the embodiments of the present invention. The skilled in the art should appreciate that detailed components may not be showed in the figure for purpose of brevity. In  FIG. 1 , the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  comprises a wired transmission module  102  comprising connecting interface  102   a  such as USB or PS/2. The integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  can be connected to the corresponding wired interface  104   a  of an appliance  104  such as a PC for transmitting both electric power and control signals via a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a . The integrated wired/wireless mouse also comprises a battery set  106  coupling to the wired transmission module  102 , to receive and store the electric power from the wired transmission module  102 ; a five voltage DC/DC converter  108  coupling to the battery set  106 , to receive the electric power from the battery set  106  and transfer the electric power into a predetermined amplitude; a micro-controller unit (MCU)  112  coupling to the five volt DC/DC converter  108  and wired transmission module  102 , to receive the direct current from the five volt DC/DC converter  108  and the electric power/control signals from wired transmission module  102 . Wherein the five volt is for purpose of exemplifying but not for limiting, and the voltage values can be adjusted for various conditions. Further, the MCU  112  comprises the software and firmware needed for maintaining the operation of the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100 . The MCU  112  receives the electric power from the five volt DC/DC converter  108  for operating, transfers the movement signal into control signal, provides the control signals to appliance  104  via wire transmission module  102 , and controls the appliance  104 . Accordingly, when the wired transmission module  102  is connected to a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a , the transmission is carried out via USB or PS/2. 
         [0026]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the MCU  112  captures control signals from a user and thus controls the operation of the integrated wired/wireless mouse. The MCU  112  also provides the function of power management such as automatically turning on/off on predetermined time. Further, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  also comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  114  coupling to the MCU  112 , to receive the signal from the MCU  112  and transfer the signal into a managed signal; a wireless transmission module  116 , such as Bluetooth wireless transmission module, coupling to DAC  114 , to receive the managed signal from DAC  114 , wirelessly transmit with appliance  104 , and wirelessly control the appliance  104 ; a low drop-out regulator (LDO regulator)  118  coupling to the battery set  106 , to receive the electric power from the battery set  106 , execute LDO regulation, and provide the electric power after LDO regulation to wireless transmission module  116 . Accordingly, when the wired transmission module  102  is not connected with a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a , the wireless transmission module  116  is taking it over to proceed signal transmission and to control the appliance. It should be noted that when transmitting wirelessly, it should exist an internal or external corresponding wireless transmitting controller (not illustrated) coupling to the control unit (not illustrated) of the appliance  104  for transmitting wireless control signal  103   b  between the wireless transmission module  116  of the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100 . It should also be noted that the wireless transmission module  116  is not limited to Bluetooth wireless transmission module in the embodiments of the present invention. In other embodiments of the present invention, the wireless transmission module  116  further comprises infra-red, radio frequency (RF), Zigbee, or other wireless transmission modules. The corresponding wireless controller of the appliance also comprises infra-red, radio frequency (RF), Zigbee, or other wireless transmitters. Further, the above-mentioned DAC may be replaced to analog-to-digital converter (ADC), or a combination thereof when dealing with different signals. 
         [0027]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  further comprises left key, right key, roller key, function key, etc. They coupling to the MCU  112  for providing functions of clicking, double-clicking, turning page, pressing and dragging, setting and using function key, etc. 
         [0028]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  further comprises a signal selection module  120  coupling to the MCU  112 ; a gyro (or gyroscopic) signal module  122  coupling to signal selection module  120  and the MCU  112 . When signal selection module  120  is selected to use gyro signal module  122 , the movement signals of the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  caused by moving the mouse in the air can be provided to the MCU  112 , and then it is transmitted to appliance  104  via DAC  114  and wireless transmission module  116 . The gyro signal module  122  is utilized as a motion sensor comprising acceleration and direction sensors for detecting the movement signals of the mouse in the air. The gyro signal module  122  may comprises digital output from tri-axial acceleration sensors and the related circuit coupling to the MCU  112  for detecting the amplitude of acceleration along the orthogonal axes and transferring it to the MCU  112 . In general, the movements, vibrations, inclinations or other motions of the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  caused by the user can thus be detected. 
         [0029]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  further comprises a finger control signal module  124  coupling to the signal selection module  120  and the MCU  112 . When the signal selection module  120  selects to use the finger control signal module  124 , the movement signal generated by the finger control signal module  124  can thus be provided to the MCU  112 , and then it is transmitted to appliance  104  via DAC  114  and wireless transmission module  116 . The finger control signal module  124  may comprise directional pad (D-Pad), joystick, tracking ball, touch panel, keyboard, etc. For example, controlling the movement of the cursor in the PC by the above-mentioned D-pad, the control signal is generated by the finger of the user, and it is not required for moving the mouse on a supporting surface or waving the mouse in the air. Further, the sensitivity and stability of the D-pad is relative higher than the gyro signal module, and therefore it is preferred to use D-pad by the user in some specific conditions with relative high requirement of sensitivity and stability. In some embodiments of the present invention, when the finger control signal module  124  is implemented as D-pad, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  100  further comprises at least one joystick potentiometer coupling to the MCU  112 . When the user sways the joystick, the at least one joystick potentiometer may output two sets of voltage values, for example, along x and y axes to the MCU  112 . The MCU  112  reads the sets of voltage values via a ADC, determines the position of the joystick, and then accomplishes the purpose of moving and positioning the cursor. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates another functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. The skilled in the art should appreciate that detailed components may not be showed in the figure for purpose of brevity. In  FIG. 2 , the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  comprises a wired transmission module  102  comprising connecting interface  102   a  such as USB or PS/2. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  can be connected to the corresponding wired interface  104   a  of an appliance  104  such as a PC for transmitting both electric power and control signals via a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a . The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus also comprises a battery set  106  coupling to the wired transmission module  102 , to receive and store the electric power from the wired transmission module  102 ; a five voltage DC/DC converter  108  coupling to the battery set  106 , to receive the electric power from the battery set  106  and transfer the electric power into a predetermined amplitude; a micro-controller unit (MCU)  112  coupling to the five volt DC/DC converter  108  and wired transmission module  102 , to receive the direct current from the five volt DC/DC converter  108  and the electric power/control signals from wired transmission module  102 . Wherein the five volt is for purpose of exemplifying but not for limiting, and the voltage values can be adjusted for various conditions. Further, the MCU  112  comprises the software and firmware needed for maintaining the operation of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 . The MCU  112  receives the electric power from the five volt DC/DC converter  108  for operating, transfers the movement signal into control signal, provides the control signals to appliance  104  via wire transmission module  102 , and controls the appliance  104 . Accordingly, when the wired transmission module  102  is connected to a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a , the transmission is carried out via USB or PS/2. 
         [0031]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the MCU  112  captures control signals from a user and thus controls the operation of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 . The MCU  112  also provides the function of power management such as automatically turning on/off on predetermined time. Further, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  also comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  114  coupling to the MCU  112 , to receive the signal from the MCU  112  and transfer the signal into a managed signal; a wireless transmission module  116 , such as Bluetooth wireless transmission module, coupling to DAC  114 , to receive the managed signal from DAC  114 , wirelessly transmit with appliance  104 , and wirelessly control the appliance  104 ; a low drop-out regulator (LDO regulator)  118  coupling to the battery set  106 , to receive the electric power from the battery set  106 , execute LDO regulation, and provide the electric power after LDO regulation to wireless transmission module  116 . Accordingly, when the wired transmission module  102  is not connected with a USB or PS/2 cable  103   a , the wireless transmission module  116  is taking it over to proceed signal transmission and control the appliance. It should be noted that when transmitting wirelessly, it should exist an internal or external corresponding wireless transmitting controller (not illustrated) coupling to the control unit (not illustrated) of the appliance  104  for transmitting wireless control signal  103   b  between the wireless transmission module  116  of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 . It should also be noted that the wireless transmission module  116  is not limited to Bluetooth wireless transmission module in the embodiments of the present invention. In other embodiments of the present invention, the wireless transmission module  116  further comprises infra-red, radio frequency (RF), Zigbee, or other wireless transmission modules. The corresponding wireless controller of the appliance also comprises infra-red, radio frequency (RF), Zigbee, or other wireless transmitters. Further, the above-mentioned DAC may be replaced to analog-to-digital converter (ADC), or a combination thereof when dealing with different signals. 
         [0032]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises left key, right key, roller key, function key, etc. They coupling to the MCU  112  for providing functions of clicking, double-clicking, turning page, pressing and dragging, setting and using function key, etc. 
         [0033]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises a finger control signal module  124  coupling to the signal selection module  120  and the MCU  112 . When the signal selection module  120  selects to use the finger control signal module  124 , the movement signal generated by the finger control signal module  124  can thus be provided to the MCU  112 , and then it is transmitted to appliance  104  via DAC  114  and wireless transmission module  116 . The finger control signal module  124  may comprise directional pad (D-Pad), joystick, tracking ball, touch panel, keyboard, etc. For example, controlling the movement of the cursor in the PC by the above-mentioned D-pad, the control signal is generated by the finger of the user, and it is not required for moving the virtual unit control apparatus  100  on a supporting surface or waving the virtual unit control apparatus  100  in the air. Further, the sensitivity and stability of the D-pad is relative higher than the gyro signal module, and therefore it is preferred to use D-pad by the user in specific conditions with relative high requirement of sensitivity and stability. In some embodiments of the present invention, when the finger control signal module  124  is implemented as D-pad, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises at least one joystick potentiometer coupling to the MCU  112 . When the user sways the joystick, the at least one joystick potentiometer may output two sets of voltage values, for example, along x and y axes to the MCU  112 . The MCU  112  reads the sets of voltage values via a ADC, determines the position of the joystick, and then accomplishes the purpose of moving and positioning the cursor. 
         [0034]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises a laser diode emitting device  128  coupling to the MCU  112 . When turning on the laser diode emitting device  128 , it projects a light spot, provides functions of a pointer. 
         [0035]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises a cursor movement speed controlling function. When the finger control signal module  124  is implemented as joystick cooperate with buttons, it is able to use the joystick alone to control the movement and the position of the cursor, and the speed of movement of the cursor is the default speed; also, it is able to press the default first button (not shown) and use the joystick to control the movement and the position of the cursor simultaneously, then the speed of movement of the cursor descends; further, it is able to press the default second button (not shown) and use the joystick to control the movement and the position of the cursor simultaneously, then the speed of movement of the cursor increases. User can adjust the speed of movement of the cursor freely, to fit different users, software, using conditions, using habits and/or so on. 
         [0036]    Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises at least one auto-detecting module (not illustrated) coupling to the MCU  112  for automatically detecting the appliances matching the codes of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  or the appliances compatible with the control of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 . The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises a reset switch (not illustrated) coupling to the MCU  112  for resetting the connecting and data transmitting between the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  and the appliance  104 , or set the continued press time of some buttons in the finger control signal module  124 . By facilitating of auto-detecting module and the reset switch, the convenience and practicability of signal matching and re-matching between the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  and the appliance  104  is greatly enhanced. 
         [0037]    Upon the implementation of gyro signal module  122  and/or finger control signal module  124  in the embodiments of the present invention, another function is provided for the user as having ability of handwriting letters or symbols in the air. Some handwriting recognition software is required to install into the appliance  104 . The software can be, for example, “Graffiti”, which is a software based on “Palm OS”. The reference information is as “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti (Palm OS)”. Thus, by making continuous strokes, the user could write one or more letters in the air. However, it should be noted that “Graffiti” is just as an example but not a limitation. Other software can also be adopted in other embodiments of the present invention. In the further embodiments of the present invention, the letters are not limited to English or numbers, and other letters such as Chinese, letters of other languages, symbols, etc., are also feasible. The different letters can be related to predetermined gestures or the combinations of the existed gestures from the “Graffiti”. Furthermore, due to the unavoidable mistakes of recognition in handwriting inputs, a function key is designated to clean the mistakes immediately to facilitate functions of fast deleting and re-inputting and improve the practicability of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Moreover, in other embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  comprises the function of copying the essential television remote controller keys such as channel selecting, volume adjusting, power turning on/off, etc. Thus, the wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  provides a mobile backup television remote controller. The function can be implemented as the combination of a television remote controller chip, wireless transmission module  116 , and the corresponding circuit, wherein the chip can be implemented as an independent chip coupling to the MCU  112  or a chip integrated with MCU  112 . However, in the embodiments, they are integrated within one chip. Further, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  comprises an infra-red transmitter  110  coupling to the MCU  112  for providing the function of a television remote controller; and an infra-red input learning module  111  coupling to the MCU  112  for providing the function of learning the essential keys and matching with a television receiver. The infra-red transmitter  110  can be implemented as an independent component or an integrated component with the wireless transmission module  116 , and they are illustrated as independent components in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0039]    In further embodiments of the present invention, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100  further comprises a function module containing a memory chip for storing the instructions maintaining the operation of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 . However, the function module can be implemented as an independent chip or an integrated chip with the MCU  112 , television remote controller chip, etc. 
         [0040]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the appliance  104  comprises personal computers (PCs), notebooks, netbooks (or UMPCs), mobile phones, electronic dictionaries, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning systems (GPSs), digital mobile audio devices, mobile gaming devices or the combinations thereof. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the appliance  104  further comprises at least one appliance switching module  126 , couples to the MCU  112 , for switching between several hardware, operation system, or the combination thereof of the appliance  104 . 
         [0042]    It should be appropriate in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, the variety functions are provided with modules such as gyro signal module, finger control signal module, etc. However, an integrated chip containing the above-mentioned functions can provide the same functions as well. Therefore, the functions provided thereof can be implemented as independent chips coupling to an MCU, or they can be integrated as a single chip with the same ability. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C illustrate the perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. The housing of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  essentially comprises a grip portion  202  and a main portion  204 , and they can be formed as an integrated component or as combinative components. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  comprises a plurality of control keys formed on the surface of its upper half. The plurality of operational components comprise a power key  206 , to provide function of turning on/off the power of the virtual unit control apparatus  200 ; a first key  208 , a second key  210 , a third key  212 , and a forth key  214  formed around the power key  206  for providing different functions. It should be noted that for purpose of brevity, it only shows four key  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214  in illustrations. However, any other number of keys may be formed in a similar way to provide more variation in other embodiments of the present invention. The first key  208  and the second key  210  can be implemented as, for example, volume decrease and increase buttons, separately. They can be implemented as the zoom in/out controlling key of viewing pictures as well. The third key  212  and forth key  214  can be implemented as, for example, direction control key, for controlling the direction of, for example, cursor, visual angle, etc. Each of the keys mentioned above is coupled to the MCU  112  and the related component in  FIG. 1  for providing the above-mentioned functionalities. Further, the integrated wired/wireless mouse  200  comprises a D-pad, a joystick, a tracking ball, a touch panel, a keyboard, of the combinations thereof for inputting control signal by the user. However, it is implemented as a joystick in  FIGS. 3A , B, and C. 
         [0044]    In  FIGS. 3A , B, and C, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  further comprises a signal light  218  and a display screen  220 . The signal light  218  can be implemented as a light-Emitting Diode (LED) coupling to the MCU  112  for providing reminder functions. For example, the signal light  218  can be cooperated with the infra-red transmit  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . When the user controls the television via the infra-red transmit  110 , the signal light  218  may emitting light with the corresponding signal transmission and remind the user the condition under processing. Further, the signal light  218  can also be cooperated with other signal modules, such as gyro signal module  122 , finger control signal module  124 , and other modules or components mentioned above. When cooperating with various signals, the signal light  218  may emit different colors for better discrimination. The display screen  220  can be implemented as a liquid crystal display (LCD), but it is not limited to LCD. The display screen  220  may be implemented as any other thin display as well, and it provides the information to the user. For example, it illustrates the battery icon, the selection index, and several selection items such as “Computer”, “Mobile Phone”, and “Television”. Wherein the battery icon provides the information of the remaining electric power of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200 , and thus the user can be reminded for charging the mouse. The illustrated “Computer” shows that the user uses the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  to control a PC. The display screen  220  may be switched to different pages for display information related to all the functions the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  can provide in a limited layout, and then the user can check and choose items on it. In the embodiments of the present invention, the housing and the control keys of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  are designed for ease of, for example, moving the cursor, gaming games, or controlling the television by the user. However, in other embodiments, the design may be changed for optimization for certain purpose. For example, several keys designated as “MJ”, “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” can be formed on the housing of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  and each of them is coupled to the MCU  112  and the related components in  FIG. 1 . Wherein, “MJ” may be a D-pad, joystick, tracking ball, touch panel, keyboard, etc., and it is coupled to the finger control signal module  124  illustrated in  FIG. 1  for controlling the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  200  by the moving of fingers of the user. “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” may be function keys. Different functions can be designated to the function keys by the user. The “E”, “F” or other function keys may also implemented on demand for fully making use of the present invention. 
         [0045]    Further, the combinations of above-mentioned keys may be utilized as smart keys. For example, the function of closing present window may be provided by the smart key, as the “Alt+F4” in a conventional keyboard. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates the perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. The housing of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300  essentially comprises a grip portion  302  and a main portion  304 , and they can be formed as an integrated component or as combinative components. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300  comprises a plurality of operational component and output component. The plurality of operational components comprise a power key  306 , to provide function of turning on/off the power of the virtual unit control apparatus  300 ; a first key  308 , a second key  310  formed at the bottom of the front of main portion  304 , a third key  312  formed at the bottom of the front of grip portion  302 , a forth key  314 , a fifth key  316 , a sixth key  318 , and a seventh key  320  formed around the upper surface of main portion  304  for providing different functions; a D-pad, a joystick, a tracking ball, a touch panel, a keyboard, of the combinations thereof is coupled to the MCU  112  for inputting control signal by the user. However, it is implemented as a joystick  322  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 4 , the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300  further comprises a signal light  324  and a laser diode emitting device  326 . The signal light  324  can be implemented as a light-Emitting Diode (LED) coupling to the MCU  112  for providing reminder functions. For example, the signal light  324  can be cooperated with the wireless transmission module  116  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When the user controls the television via the wireless transmission module  116 , the signal light  324  may emitting light with the corresponding signal transmission and remind the user the condition under processing. Further, the signal light  324  can also be cooperated with other signal modules, such as finger control signal module  124  and other modules or components mentioned above. When cooperating with various signals, the signal light  324  may emit different colors for better discrimination, for example, press the power key  306  and last for eight seconds, the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300  turns into automated signal detecting and pairing mode, the signal light  324  flashes with blue and orange LEDs. The laser diode emitting device  326  can be implemented as a laser pointer, project a laser beam when turned on, and it provides the function of a pointer. The wavelengths of laser beam projected by the laser diode emitting device  326  are better from 380 to 750 nm. The laser diode emitting device  326  couple to a button as switch, the switch mode comprises: press and hold the key to turn on and release to turn off, press once to turn on and press again to turn off, or other mode of using the key to turn on and off. It should be noted that for purpose of brevity, it only shows seven keys  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318  and  320  in illustrations. However, any other number of keys may be formed in a similar way to provide more variation in other embodiments of the present invention. The first key  308  can be implemented as, for example, the middle button of a mouse, the second key  310  can be implemented as the left button of a mouse, the third key  312  can be implemented as the right button of a mouse, provides user ability to control any function implemented to a mouse, such as single click, double click, drag, circle, open the menu or any other functions. For example, the fourth key  314  can be implemented as the black screen function of PowerPoint, the fifth key  316  can be implemented as switch of laser diode emitting device, the sixth key  318  can be implemented as “page up” key on keyboard, and the seventh key  320  can be implemented as “page down” key on keyboard, provides user to control every kind of direction changing functions in application device, for example, direction control key, for controlling the direction of, for example, cursor, visual angle, etc. Each of the keys mentioned above is coupled to the MCU  112  and the related component in  FIG. 2  for providing the above-mentioned functionalities. 
         [0048]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the housing and the control keys of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300  are designed for ease of moving the cursor or gaming games by the user. For example, use the joystick  322  alone to control the movement of cursor in computer, the cursor in computer moves in default speed, and blue and orange LEDs of the signal light  324  light up together; if press the first key  308 , the second key  310 , the third key  312 , and the sixth key  318 , then slide the joystick  322  to the left, the speed of movement of the cursor in computer switch to low speed, and the signal light  324  light up in orange, when user controls the movement of the cursor in computer with joystick  322 , the cursor in computer moves at low speed; if press the first key  308 , the second key  310 , the third key  312 , and the sixth key  318 , then slide the joystick  322  to the right, the speed of movement of the cursor in computer switch to high speed, and the signal light  324  light up in blue, when user controls the movement os the cursor in computer with joystick  322 , the cursor in computer moves at high speed. The combinations of keys for switching the cursor movement speed mentioned above are for better understanding and describing examples of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the control of switching cursor movement speed can be any combination of one or more than one key with joystick. 
         [0049]    With collocating the joystick and other key(s), the speed of movement of the cursor in computer, for example, is adjustable instantly when the cursor is moving. For example, when pressing the first key and control the joystick at the same time, to change the default movement speed of the cursor in computer to the second movement speed, the second speed is different from the default speed, to fit the needs when users using the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  300 . The combination of keys and joystick for switching the cursor movement speed instantly are used for better understanding and describing examples of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the control of switching cursor movement speed can be any combination of one or more than one key with joystick. However, in other embodiment of present invention, different functions can be designated to all the keys by the user, and adding other units not shown in the figure. For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, there may be a key defined for adjusting speed of the cursor. The defined key for adjusting speed of the cursor can be used with signal light  324  for showing the current movement speed of the cursor. Press the defined key once, the movement speed of the cursor in computer is default speed, blue and orange LEDs of the signal light  324  light up together, if press the defined key twice, the movement speed of the cursor in computer switches to low speed, and the signal light  324  light up in orange; if press the defined key thrice, the movement speed of the cursor in computer switch to high speed, and the signal light  324  light up in blue. The key defined for adjusting speed of the cursor is for giving an example, it can be any combination of one or more than one key with joystick. 
         [0050]    Please referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 2A  illustrates another functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention, and  FIG. 5A  illustrates the perspective diagrams of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 5A , the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  further comprises a removable base  450 , for the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  setting on the removable base  450 . There is at least one mounting  420  formed between the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  400  and the removable base  450  to solid mounting the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  and the removable base  450 . The at least one mounting  420  further comprises, but not limited to, bolt, pin, slide, screw, frictional plane, spring, and the combination thereof. There could be at least one electrical coupling unit  440  formed between the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  and the removable base  450 , for transporting electrical signals between the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  and the removable base  450 . In one embodiment, the electrical coupling unit  440  and the mounting  420  is formed as an integrated component. 
         [0051]    Please referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 2A  illustrates another functional block diagram of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention;  FIG. 5B  illustrates another embodiment of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus of the present invention. In  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 5B , the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  further comprises removable base  450  comprising a sensing module  460  for sensing movement of the removable base  450  and generating a movement signal. The movement signal generated by the sensing module  460  is transported to the MCU  112  of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  100 ,  400  through the electrical coupling unit  440 . The sensing module  460  comprises an optical module or a tracking ball module. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5C  illustrates the other embodiment of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus of present invention. The integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  400  further comprises a sensing module  410  formed on the housing of the integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus and coupled to said MCU, for sensing movement of said integrated wired/wireless virtual unit control apparatus  400  when setting on said removable base  450 , generating a movement signal, and transporting said movement signal to said MCU. The sensing module  410  comprises optical sensing module or tracking ball module. 
         [0053]    For providing thoroughly understanding of the present invention, there are some terminologies used in the foregoing description. However, it should be appreciated that certain specific details are not necessary in implementing the present invention. Therefore, each of the specific embodiments of the present invention is for purpose of description but not for purpose of limiting the present invention to a specific detail. For example, the layout of the functional block diagram may be modified under the teaching of the present invention, and the illustrated or not illustrated components may be replaced by components with similar functionalities or equivalents. Some components are not necessarily required when implementing the present invention. It should be obvious that some modifications or variations may be made under the teaching or suggestion of the embodiments of the present invention for better accommodation with different environments or conditions, but they should be included in the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims and the equivalents.