Abstract:
A Bluetooth apparatus is mounted to a computer input device (e.g., mouse) and includes a Bluetooth module for storing a plurality of unique IDs each corresponding to one of a plurality of Bluetooth-actuated computers, the Bluetooth module comprising a push button switch projecting out of the computer input device and a Bluetooth signal transmission unit electrically connected to a PCB of the computer input device; and a plurality of LED indicators mounted on a housing of the computer input device and electrically connected to the PCB. A pressing of the push button switch will switch the computer being operated to be idle and activate a next computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to Bluetooth technology and more particularly to a computer input device (e.g., mouse or keyboard) having a Bluetooth arrangement for operating at least two computers by switching by manipulating the Bluetooth arrangement. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Bluetooth is a short distance wireless communication technology of wirelessly transmitting information (e.g., text, voice, and/or video data) within a range of 10 to 100 m with up to 1 Mbps. 
         [0005]    A Bluetooth-enabled device (i.e., Bluetooth device) enters a connect state for communication with other Bluetooth devices through the states of inquiry or the like. In this process, the Bluetooth devices are designated as a master and slaves according to their roles. 
         [0006]    To establish a new connection between Bluetooth devices within the range of each other, the devices must coincide in operation clock and frequency pattern. In the inquiry state, a master repeatedly transmits signals at a frequency to let slaves synchronize to the frequency pattern. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,231 entitled “Computer mouse with Bluetooth hand-free handset” comprises an electric source module for supplying power to the computer input device, comprising a voltage step-up circuit and a battery, in which the battery can be a one-time-battery or a rechargeable battery used as the electric source for the computer input device; an optical mouse circuit for detecting movement vector caused by a movement of the computer input device; a Bluetooth module coupled to the optical mouse circuit. The module is further connected to an antenna, a power LED for indicating whether the computer input device is powered, and a link LED for indicating whether the computer input device is in a communication state; an echo cancellation circuit coupled to the Bluetooth module for canceling echoes of audio signals; a sound receptor coupled to the echo cancellation circuit for receiving audio signals; an audio signal amplifying circuit coupled to the echo cancellation circuit for receiving and amplifying the audio signals outputted from the echo cancellation circuit; and a loudspeaker coupled to the audio signal amplifying circuit. 
         [0008]    Typically, a computer can be operated by manipulating a mouse or a keyboard, and two mice or keyboards are required to operate two computers respectively. However, the well known configuration is not convenient in use. Thus, a need for improvement exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a Bluetooth apparatus mounted to a computer input device, comprising a Bluetooth module for storing a plurality of unique IDs each corresponding to one of a plurality of Bluetooth-actuated computers, the Bluetooth module comprising a push button switch projecting out of the computer input device and a Bluetooth signal transmission unit electrically connected to a PCB of the computer input device; and a plurality of LED indicators mounted on a housing of the computer input device and electrically connected to the PCB. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the computer input device is a Bluetooth mouse. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to provide a Bluetooth apparatus mounted to a computer input device, comprising a Bluetooth module for storing a plurality of unique IDs each corresponding to one of a plurality of Bluetooth-actuated computers, the Bluetooth module comprising a push button switch projecting out of the computer input device and a Bluetooth signal transmission unit electrically connected to a PCB of the computer input device; and an electronic display device mounted on the computer input device and electrically connected to the PCB. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the computer input device is a Bluetooth keyboard. 
         [0013]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a Bluetooth mouse according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the Bluetooth mouse shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of two computers being operated by manipulating the Bluetooth mouse of  FIG. 1  in cooperation with a typical keyboard; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a Bluetooth keyboard according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of two computers being operated by manipulating the Bluetooth keyboard of  FIG. 4  in cooperation with a typical mouse. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a computer input device (e.g., a wireless optical mouse) with a Bluetooth arrangement (hereinafter, referred to as a Bluetooth mouse) in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is generally designated by numeral  1 A. The Bluetooth mouse  1 A comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0020]    A housing  10  comprises a side opening  101 , a top opening  102 , and four front openings  103 . A PCB (printed circuit board)  12  is mounted on a base  11 . 
         [0021]    An IC (integrated circuit) module  13  is electrically connected to and mounted on the PCB  12 . The IC module  13  comprises four LED (light-emitting diode) indicators  131  mounted in the front openings  103  respectively, and a scroll wheel  132 . A Bluetooth module  14  is electrically connected to and mounted on the PCB  12 . The Bluetooth module  14  comprises a push button switch (e.g., a two-section push button switch)  141  and a Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142 . 
         [0022]    In an assembly state of the Bluetooth mouse  1 A, the base  11  is releasably secured to the housing  10  in a manner well known in the art. Both the PCB  12  and the IC module  13  are mounted in the Bluetooth mouse  1 A. The push button switch  141  projects out of the side opening  101 . The scroll wheel  132  is rotatably mounted in the top opening  102 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  specifically, a user may manipulate the Bluetooth mouse  1 A in cooperation with a conventional keyboard  1 B to operate a plurality of computers (two are shown)  3 . The computers  3  are Bluetooth-actuated devices and each computer  3  corresponds to one of a plurality of unique IDs (identifications) stored in the Bluetooth module  14  (i.e., stored in the Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142 ). 
         [0024]    For example, prior to a switching operation, the leftmost LED indicator  131  is lit and other LED indicators  131  are dimmed. That is, the left computer  3  is being operated by the Bluetooth mouse  1 A and the right computer  3  is idle. Alternatively, the LED indicators  131  are replaced with electronic display devices for showing decimal numerals in other embodiments. 
         [0025]    A user may press the push button switch  141  to switch the operation from the left computer  3  to the right computer  3 . In detail, after the pressing the Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142  repeatedly transmits signals at an operation frequency to let the computers  3  synchronize to the frequency pattern. After a successful communication, the ID of the left computer  3  is disabled and the ID of the immediately next computer (i.e., the right) computer  3  is enabled. Moreover, the LED indicator  131  next to the leftmost LED indicator  131  is lit and other LED indicators  131  are dimmed. The user can identify which computer  3  is being operated by the Bluetooth mouse  1 A by observing brightness or dimness of the LED indicators  131 . Further, a quick switch operation is carried out. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a computer input device (e.g., a wireless keyboard) with a Bluetooth arrangement (hereinafter, referred to as a Bluetooth keyboard) in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is generally designated by numeral  2 B. The Bluetooth keyboard  2 B comprises a keyboard housing  20 , a Bluetooth module  14  including a push button switch (e.g., a two-section push button switch)  141  and a Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142 , and an electronic display device  15  (e.g., a seven-segment display as shown). 
         [0027]    In an assembly state of the Bluetooth keyboard  2 B, the electronic display device  15  is mounted on, for example, a right top corner of a top surface of the keyboard housing  20  and the Bluetooth module  14  is mounted beside the electronic display device  15  with the push button switch  141  being exposed. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 5  specifically, a user may operate the Bluetooth keyboard  2 B in cooperation with a conventional wireless optical mouse  2 A to operate a plurality of computers (two are shown)  3 . The computers  3  are Bluetooth-actuated devices and each computer  3  corresponds to one of a plurality of unique IDs stored in the Bluetooth module  14  (i.e., stored in the Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142 ). 
         [0029]    For example, prior to a switching operation, a decimal numeral “ 1 ” is shown on the electronic display device  15 . That is, the left computer  3  is being operated by the Bluetooth keyboard  2 B and the right computer  3  is idle. 
         [0030]    A user may press the push button switch  141  to switch the operation from the left computer  3  to the right computer  3 . In detail, after the pressing the Bluetooth signal transmission unit  142  repeatedly transmits signals at an operation frequency to let the computers  3  synchronize to the frequency pattern. After a successful communication, the ID of the left computer  3  is disabled and the ID of the immediately next computer (i.e., the right) computer  3  is enabled. Moreover, a decimal numeral “ 2 ” (i.e., increase in value) is shown on the electronic display device  15 . Alternatively, a default decimal numeral (e.g., “ 1 ”) is shown on the electronic display device  15  if the previously shown decimal numeral is “ 2 ” which is the maximum value in this embodiment. The user can identify which computer  3  is being operated by the Bluetooth keyboard  2 B by observing the decimal numeral change shown on the electronic display device  15 . Further a quick switch operation is carried out. 
         [0031]    While a Bluetooth mouse and a Bluetooth keyboard are described as preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that Bluetooth earphones, Bluetooth loudspeakers, or other Bluetooth devices are equally applicable without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0032]    While the push button switch is described as a two-section push button switch in the above preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that a push button switch having at least three sections are equally applicable without departing from the scope of the invention if there are at least three computers to be operated. 
         [0033]    It is envisaged by the invention that a computer input device incorporating a Bluetooth module of the invention is adapted to operate more than one computer by switching. This is a significant contribution of the invention to the advancement of the art which, as discussed in the background section and for example, two mice or keyboards are required to operate two computers respectively. 
         [0034]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.