Abstract:
The present invention relates to a wireless mouse system. Particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless mouse system which can integrate a flash memory device and a receiving device of a wireless mouse into one device. A wireless mouse system comprises a wireless mouse; and an interfacing device with a USB terminal, electrically communicated with a USB port of a information-displaying device, and having at least one recess disposed on a surface thereof, wherein the interfacing device comprises a receiving device receiving a signal data transferred wirelessly from the wireless mouse, and transferring the signal to the information-displaying device; and a flash memory device exchanging data with the information-displaying device through the USB terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a wireless mouse system. Particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless mouse system which can integrate a flash memory device and a receiving device of a wireless mouse into one device.  
         [0003]     Also, the present invention relates to a wireless mouse. Particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless mouse which can releasably retain an interface device therein.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Because a computer, a monitor, a keyboard and cables thereof are arranged separately in a confined area, the effective use of the working area is restricted. For that reason, a laptop computer is widely used in order to provide convenience and rapidity to users working in a small room, outdoors, or on the move.  
         [0006]     The laptop computer is portable device, and thus has a pointing device, such as a touch pad or a track ball, instead of a mouse. Such a pointing device has drawbacks that the pointing speed of the pointing device is slower than that of the mouse, and that accuracy of the pointing device is lower than that of the mouse.  
         [0007]     Therefore, a wire mouse connected to the laptop computer has been used more frequently than the pointing device. However, the connection between the laptop computer and the wire mouse is inconvenient, and the use of the wire mouse is restricted by the confined working area where the laptop computer is used. In order to resolve these problems, a wireless mouse has been developed.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the constitution of a wireless mouse according to the related art.  
         [0009]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the wireless mouse system comprises a wireless mouse  40 , a receiving device  30 , a computer  10 , and a USB port  20 . The wireless mouse  40  is operated by a independent power source.  
         [0010]     The USB port  20  is installed on the computer  10  for connecting an internal processor of the computer  10  to an external communication device.  
         [0011]     The receiving device  30  is connected to the USB port  20 , receives a operating signal from the wireless mouse  40 , and transfers the operating signal to the computer  10 . The operating signal of the wireless mouse  40  is inputted through the USB port  20 , and the computer  10  processes the operating signal.  
         [0012]     The wireless mouse system described above necessarily needs the separate receiving device  30 . Therefore, it is inconvenient to separately carry the receiving device  30  as well as the wireless mouse  40 .  
         [0013]     Recently, as the use of peripheral equipments is increasing, the use of a flash memory connected to the USB port  20  is increasing.  
         [0014]     Therefore, it is necessary for a user of the laptop computer to separately carry the flash memory as well as the laptop computer  10 , the wireless mouse  40  and the receiver  30 . It is inconvenient for the user to carry all of them, and also increases the probability of losing the above devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless mouse system in which a receiving device and a flash memory device can be integrated into an interfacing device.  
         [0016]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless mouse system and a wireless mouse, wherein an interfacing device, which a receiving device and a flash memory device is integrated into, can be inserted in the wireless mouse.  
         [0017]     A wireless mouse system according to the present invention comprises a wireless mouse; and an interfacing device with a USB terminal, electrically communicated with a USB port of a information-displaying device, and having at least one recess disposed on a surface thereof, wherein the interfacing device comprises a receiving device receiving a signal data transferred wirelessly from the wireless mouse, and transferring the signal to the information-displaying device; and a flash memory device exchanging data with the information-displaying device through the USB terminal.  
         [0018]     The wireless mouse comprises a socket releasably retaining the interfacing device inserted therein; and a fixing member having at least one protrusion, wherein at least one protrusion is releasably inserted into the at least one recess of the interfacing device retained in the socket.  
         [0019]     The interfacing device further comprises a controller transferring the signal of the receiving device to the information-displaying device, exchanging the data of the flash memory device with the information-displaying device, and coupled to the USB terminal, the receiving device and the flash memory device; and a selection switch coupled to the controller, and switched to the receiving device or the flash memory device, wherein the controller transfers a control signal to the switched device by the selection switch.  
         [0020]     A wireless mouse comprises a socket releasably retaining an interfacing device inserted therein, wherein the interfacing device has a USB terminal, and at least one recess disposed on a surface of the interfacing device.  
         [0021]     The wireless mouse further comprises a fixing member having at least one protrusion, wherein at least one protrusion is releasably inserted into the at least one recess of the interfacing device retained in the socket.  
         [0022]     The wireless mouse system according to the present invention can integrate the receiving device and the flash memory device into the interfacing device.  
         [0023]     Also, the wireless mouse system according to the present invention can insert the interfacing device comprising the receiving device and the flash memory device into the wireless mouse, which provides convenience and portableness. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the constitution of a wireless mouse according to the related art.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the elements of the wireless mouse system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view illustrating that the wireless mouse and the interfacing device are separated.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view illustrating that the interfacing device is inserted into the wireless mouse.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating the interfacing device fixed in the wireless mouse.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the interfacing device released from the wireless mouse.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating another interfacing device fixed in the wireless mouse. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the elements of the wireless mouse system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the wireless mouse system of the present invention comprises an information-displaying device  100 , a wireless mouse  300  and an interfacing device  200 .  
         [0034]     The information-displaying device  100  is operated by OS, and operates programs of the information-displaying device  100  with the input data of the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0035]     A USB port  110  is disposed on one end of the information-displaying device  100 .  
         [0036]     Usually, a computer can be connected to a keyboard, a monitor, a mouse, a printer, a modem, etc by USB. It is possible for one hundred twenty seven devices to be connected simultaneously to the computer. Also, when new peripheral equipments are connected to the computer, they can be recognized automatically, and conveniently connected without rebooting or set-up.  
         [0037]     The USB port  110  receives operating signals of the wireless mouse  300  from the receiving device  220 , and transfers them to the information-displaying device  100 . Also, the USB port  110  is used for exchanging data with a flash memory device  230 . The USB port  110  is manufactured whereby a USB terminal  210  of the interfacing device  200  can be inserted therein.  
         [0038]     The wireless mouse  300  can utilize RF, infrared ray or other local area communication method.  
         [0039]     The wireless mouse  300  comprises a ball or an optical sensor which can sense the operation of the wireless mouse  300 , such as mouse button click or mouse wheel rotation. The wireless mouse  300  transfers the signal corresponding to the operation thereof to the receiving device  220  through an internal communication means corresponding to a local area communication means of the receiving device  220 . The wireless mouse  300  needs an independent power source for the operation thereof.  
         [0040]     The interfacing device  200  comprises the USB terminal  210 , the receiving device  220 , the flash memory device  230 , a controller  240  and a selection switch  250 .  
         [0041]     The USB terminal  210  is a connector coupled to the USB port  110  disposed on the information-displaying device  100 , and is configured to receive the electrical signals transferred from the USB port  110  by a conductor such as a metal.  
         [0042]     The receiving device  220  comprises a signal receiver  222 , a receiving device controller  224 , a BUS controller  226  and a CIS (Card Information Structure) memory  228 .  
         [0043]     After receiving analog signals in the unit of packet, generated from the wireless mouse  300 , the signal receiver  222  transforms the analog signals to digital signals, and transfers the digital signals to the receiving device controller  224  in series.  
         [0044]     The receiving device controller  224  receives commands of the information-displaying device  100  through the controller  240 , and performs control operations. Primarily, after deciding whether there exists an error in the digital signals transferred from the signal receiver  222 , the receiving device controller  224  processes the digital signals thereby generating the information-displaying device data.  
         [0045]     The CIS memory  228  stores the data about the function and characteristic of the receiving device  220 .  
         [0046]     The BUS controller  226  decodes the address BUS (not shown) and the data BUS (not shown), of the information-displaying device  100  thereby transferring the processed information-displaying device data to the information-displaying device  100  through the USB terminal  210  with using the data stored in the CIS memory  228 .  
         [0047]     The signal packet generated from the wireless mouse  300  includes the amount of movement, the direction of movement and the mouse button click, of the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0048]     The flash memory device  230  comprises an interface part  232 , a flash memory controller  234  and a flash memory  236 .  
         [0049]     The interface part  232  receives the packet transferred through the USB terminal  210 , and output it to the flash memory controller  234 . Also, the interface part  232  transforms the data outputted from the flash memory  236  into USB signals, and transfers the USB signals to the USB terminal  210 .  
         [0050]     The flash memory controller  234  is connected to the interface part  232  and the flash memory  236 , and controls the data read/write of the flash memory  236 .  
         [0051]     The flash memory controller  234  recognizes the address included in the packet outputted from the interface part  232 . Then, the flash memory controller  234  writes the data included in the packet on the corresponding address of the flash memory  236 , or transfers the data read from the flash memory  236  to the interface part  232 .  
         [0052]     The selection switch  250  switches to the receiving device  220  or the flash memory device  230 , of the interfacing device  200 .  
         [0053]     For example, if the button of the selection switch  250  is pushed, the receiving device  220  (or the flash memory device  230 ) is selected. And, if the button of the selection switch  250  is pushed again, the flash memory device  230  (or the receiving device  220 ) is selected.  
         [0054]     When the selection switch  250  selects the desired device, the controller  240  transfers a control command to the receiving device controller  224  and the flash memory controller  234  whereby the interfacing device  200  can be operated as the selected device.  
         [0055]     Also, the interfacing device  200  can further comprise a charging device  260  for charging the wireless mouse  300 . If the interfacing device  200  is inserted into the USB port  110  of the information-displaying device  100 , the information-displaying device  100  starts to charge the charging device  260 . Then, if the charging device  260  is inserted into the wireless mouse  300 , the wireless mouse  300  is charged from the charging device  260 .  
         [0056]     The interfacing device  200  is configured to be releasably inserted into the socket of the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0057]     Hereinafter, the method of inserting the interfacing device  200  into the wireless mouse  300 , and releasing the interfacing device  200  from the wireless mouse  300 , will be explained.  
         [0058]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view illustrating that the wireless mouse and the interfacing device are separated.  FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view illustrating that the interfacing device is inserted into the wireless mouse.  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b,  an inlet part  310  is mounted on the rear surface of the wireless mouse  300 , wherein the interfacing device  200  is inserted into the wireless mouse  300  through the inlet part  310 .  
         [0060]     In order to be connected to the USB port  110  of the information-displaying device  100 , thereby serving wireless communication with the wireless mouse  300 , the interfacing device  200  is separated from the wireless mouse  300  through the inlet part  310  as illustrated in  FIG. 3   a.  The wireless mouse  300  is designed to release the interfacing device  200  when a release button of a fixing member  320 , disposed on the upper surface of the wireless mouse  300 , is pushed.  
         [0061]     In case that the interfacing device  200  is not used, the interfacing device  200  is retained in the socket of the wireless mouse  300  through the inlet part  310  as illustrated in  FIG. 3   b.  The wireless mouse  300  is designed to fix the interfacing device  200  therein when the interfacing device  200  is pushed into the inlet part  310 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating the interfacing device fixed in the wireless mouse.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the interfacing device released from the wireless mouse.  
         [0063]     The fixing member  320  is installed in the wireless mouse  300 . The release button is disposed on an end of the fixing member  320 , and is protruded from the surface of the wireless mouse  300 . At least one protrusion  322  is disposed on the other end of the fixing member  320 , which corresponds to at least one recess  212  disposed on the USB terminal  210  of the interfacing device  200  retained in the wireless mouse  300 . The protrusion  322  is wedge-shaped. When the release button is pushed, the fixing member  320  moves downward.  
         [0064]     Also, an elastic member  330 , such as a spring, is mounted on the socket of the wireless mouse  300 , and corresponds to the USB terminal  210  of the interfacing device  200  retained in the socket of the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0065]     When the interfacing device  200  is inserted into the wireless mouse  300  through the inlet part  310 , the USB terminal  210  pushes the wedge-shaped protrusion  322 , whereby the wedge-shaped protrusion  322  moves under the USB terminal  210 . Then, as the interfacing device  200  continues to move forward, the wedge-shaped protrusion  322  is inserted into the recess  212  disposed on the USB terminal  210 . Therefore, the interfacing device  200  is fixed in the socket of the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0066]     The interfacing device  200  retained in the socket of the wireless mouse  300  is coupled to an auxiliary battery  360  through the USB terminal  210 , wherein the auxiliary battery  360  is charged from the charging device  260  of the interfacing device  200 .  
         [0067]     In order to release the interfacing device  200  from the wireless mouse  300 , the release button disposed on the upper surface of the wireless mouse  300  is pushed, whereby the fixing member  320  moves downward. Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the protrusion  322 , which has been inserted into the recess  212  disposed on the USB terminal  210 , also moves downward, whereby the USB terminal  210  is separated from the protrusion  322 .  
         [0068]     Also, the elastic member  330  mounted on the socket of the wireless mouse  300  pushes the interfacing device  200  to the outside of the wireless mouse  300 , and then the interfacing device  200  is separated form the wireless mouse  300 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating another interfacing device fixed in the wireless mouse.  
         [0070]     The constitution that the protrusion  322  is inserted into the recess  212  disposed on the USB terminal  210 , illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  can be modified to the constitution that a protrusion  522  is inserted into a recess  402  disposed on an interfacing device  400  itself.  
         [0071]     Here, in order to release the interfacing device  400  from the wireless mouse  300 , the release button disposed on the upper surface of the wireless mouse  300  is pushed, whereby a fixing member  520  moves downward. Then, the protrusion  522 , which has been inserted into the recess  402  disposed on the interfacing device  400 , also moves downward, whereby the interfacing device  400  is separated from the protrusion  522 .  
         [0072]     From the above preferred embodiments for the present invention, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by a person skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that changes may be made for a particular embodiment of the present invention within the scope and the spirit of the present invention outlined by the appended claims.