Washable mouse

Embodiments of a washable computer mouse are disclosed. In an embodiment, a water impermeable layer is sealably mounted to a housing so as to provide a water impermeable region and a water permeable region. Mouse circuitry, which includes a sensor and a light source and a responsive element, is positioned in the water impermeable region. A biased button is positioned in the water permeable region and is configured to engage the responsive element. In an embodiment, the mouse circuitry may be configured for wireless transmission of signals and may include a removable door that, in operation, sealably covers a replaceable power source. In an alternative embodiment, the housing may include an exposed connector and a plug that is configured to seal the connector may be attached to the housing by a tether.

BACKGROUND

Input devices, such as computer mice, are highly useful for interfacing with a computer. One potential issue with the use of a computer mouse, however, is that users touch it. This physical contact tends to spread germs from user to subsequent user. This can lead to the spread of sickness and malaise and is especially concerning in public areas such as libraries and internet cafes where multiple users use a single computer.

In addition, a mouse can be come dirty due to a user's sweat, as well as exposure to dirt and food or drink. Therefore, the computer mouse has a substantial tendency to become dirty and unsanitary over a period of use. Given the expected usage patterns, high levels of bacteria and germs, as well as dirt and other undesirable deposits, can be expected to be found on a computer mouse. While designs exist to help combat the problem with potentially unsanitary computer mice, further improvements would be helpful.

SUMMARY

A housing is provided with a mouse circuitry that includes a light source, a sensor and a responsive element. An optical port is provided in the housing. A barrier layer is sealed to the housing so as to form a sealed pocket around the mouse circuitry. A button is mounted outside the sealed pocket and is configured to actuate the responsive element through the barrier layer. The mouse circuitry may be configured for wireless communication with an external device. The housing may include an exposed external connector and may further include a plug for removably sealing the external connector. A sealed touchpad unit may be mounted near the button and may be in sealed communication with mouse circuitry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a computer system10. As is common, the computer system10includes a computer housing20coupled to a display30by a display cable35. As can be appreciated, the computer housing20and the display30can be combined in a single unit. To provide user input to the computer housing20, a keyboard40is coupled to the computer housing by a keyboard cable45. To provide the user additional input functionality, a mouse50is coupled to the computer housing20via a mouse cable55. As is known, the input devices (e.g., keyboard and mouse) may be alternatively configured to provide signals in a wireless manner and the cables connecting the keyboard40and the mouse50to the computer housing20may be omitted. In an embodiment the keyboard40and mouse50may transmit signals directly to the computer housing20via any preferable RF protocol, such as, but not limited to, Bluetooth. While both ways of communicating are shown inFIG. 1, however it is recognized that typically only one method would be used.

In an alternative embodiment, the keyboard40and mouse50may wirelessly transmit the signals to a receiver module60that is configured to receive the signals. The receiver module60, which may be directly coupled to the computer housing20, may also transmit the received signals to the computer housing20via a receiver cable65.

As can be appreciated, a possible advantage of using the receiver module60is that the keyboard40and mouse50can be positioned close to the receiver module without the need for a bulky computer case20to be close to the keyboard40and mouse50.

The receiver module60allows for the use of any desirable RF protocol and, if positioned close enough, can also allows the keyboard40and mouse50to transmit signals at a lower power level. In addition, if the computer housing20is not configured to receive the chosen protocol, the use of the receiver module60allows the input devices to function without the need to modify the computer housing20.

The computer mouse50, as depicted in the schematic illustration ofFIG. 2, can be configured to include a left input element105, a right input element110and a middle input element115positioned between the left and right inputs elements105,110. In an embodiment, the left and right inputs elements may be provided by two buttons that may be depressed and when depressed, engage a responsive element such as a switch. The middle input element115may be provided by known components such as a scroll wheel or a touchpad unit with a contact surface that senses movement of a user's finger across the contact surface. An advantage of using a touchpad unit is that it can be encapsulated more readily so as to be made waterproof.

As can be appreciated, a waterproof computer mouse is useful because it allows a user to easily clean the computer mouse. If the touchpad unit is waterproof, then the computer mouse can be configured so that it can be submerged in water and in an embodiment the computer mouse may even be safely run through a dishwasher cycle with little or no caution taken by the user.

FIG. 3illustrates details of an embodiment of a computer mouse50. A housing100includes a lower portion104and an upper portion106. Skid plates108are provided on the lower portion104as an aid to provide a lower friction when moving the mouse50around. Two buttons120are supported by support110of the upper portion106and a biasing element125is configured to urge the buttons120to an initial non-depressed position (as shown). In one arrangement, the biasing element125is a spring suspended from the support110. However, any desired form of biasing element may be used.

In operation, depressing one the buttons120can cause it to engage a responsive element153that is coupled to a mouse circuitry150. As is known, the mouse circuitry150, which may be provided on a printed circuit board (PCB), is configured to convert the actuation of the responsive element153caused by the button press into a digital signal. To detect translational movement of the mouse50relative to a supporting surface5, a light source154emits a light that passes through the lower portion104and is reflected off the surface supporting5back to the sensor152in the computer mouse50. Movement of the computer mouse50creates patterns of reflected light and a sensor152is provided to detect the reflected patterns of light off the surface supporting the computer mouse50. The sensor152may be a complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or any other desirable type of sensor. The sensor152may be coupled to a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes the detected patterns so that the speed and direction of movement of the mouse may be determined. The light source154may be, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser. To provide a pathway for the light emitted from the light source154and also for the light reflected off the surface supporting the mouse, an optical port118is provided. The optical port is a transparent area in the housing that allows light to pass through housing, reflect of a support surface105and be reflected back through the housing100to the sensor152. In an embodiment, a LED based light source154and an associated sensor152can be used with a sufficiently translucent material for the lower portion104because the patterns of light can be detected through the translucent material. Therefore, in an embodiment, a translucent material may be used for the lower portion104. An advantage of such a configuration is the elimination of a separate optical port because the optical port is integral with the lower portion104.

In an alternative embodiment, the optical port118may be a separate component that is fastened to the lower portion104via an adhesive, overmolding process, RF welding or any other desirable fastening process. An advantage of such a configuration is that the optical port118can be made of a separate material with different optical qualities than the housing100and/or the lower portion104without substantially increasing the cost of the remainder of the housing100. In an embodiment, the optical port118can be used with a laser based light source154so as to provide a computer mouse50that includes the advantages of using a laser as the light source154.

To power the mouse circuitry150, a power source160may be provided. The power source160may be positioned in a compartment112and may be covered by a door114that removable attaches to the lower portion104in a sealable fashion via one or more fasteners116. The door114may be sealed to the lower portion104via gaskets or O-rings such as is shown inFIG. 9. Electrical power may be provided to the mouse circuitry150via wires156.

As can be appreciated, the lower portion104is configured so as to be sealed against the ingression of liquids such as water. To protect the various conductors and circuitry supported by the lower portion104, a substantially water impermeable barrier layer130is sealed to a sealing surface105, which may be a lip or shoulder or any other desirable shape, of the lower portion104. The barrier layer130may be a material with a low durometer and may have variable surface contours and a variable wall thickness. In an embodiment, one or more fasteners may be used to compress the barrier layer130between the lower portion104and the upper portion106. For example,FIG. 7illustrates two examples of how the upper and lower portion may be held together. In an embodiment depicted on the left side ofFIG. 7, a member103amay extend through an aperture134in the barrier layer130and a fastener231, which may include a seal231a, may be configured to engage the member103a. While the member103amay be sealed to the barrier layer130in any desirable manner, in an embodiment a seal135may be used to seal the barrier layer130to the member103a. In an alternative embodiment, as depicted on the right side ofFIG. 7, the aperture134may be configured so as to be compressed between two opposing members101and103and a fastener230may extend through the aperture134.

It should be noted that the barrier layer130may be made of silicone and may be molded so as to provide the desired shape. The barrier layer may also include one or more wear plates136which allow the buttons120to be pressed down without wearing out the barrier layer130. The wear plates136, if provided, may be attached to the barrier layer130via an adhesive, an overmolding, a RF welding or by any other desirable fastening process.

The fastening mechanism for holding the upper and lower portions104,106together is shown being positioned inside the sealing surface105inFIG. 7, just as it is inFIG. 8a. In an alternative embodiment, the member103may be positioned outside of the sealing surface105, as is depicted inFIG. 8b. While the embodiment depicted inFIG. 8bhas the advantage of not requiring the member103to seal to the barrier layer130, the embodiment depicted inFIG. 8ahas the advantage of, for a given sized housing100, providing a greater volume of space enclosed in a sealing pocket formed by the barrier layer130and the lower portion104. The additional space can be useful for packaging the mouse circuitry in a smaller or more sleek housing100.

The computer mouse50depicted inFIG. 3also includes an antenna155, therefore the mouse circuitry150may transmit digital signals to a receiver, such as the receiver module60. In such a configuration, the computer mouse50may be placed entirely into a cleaning solution with the need to prepare the mouse. Thus, the computer mouse50may go from use with a computer to being placed directly into a cleaning solution without any special care being required and if materials are chosen that are stable at the temperatures experienced in dishwasher, the computer mouse50may also be also be placed directly into a dishwasher. It should be noted that as water is likely to enter the upper portion106, the biasing element125may be molded as a dome shaped feature in the barrier layer130because it is expected that the barrier layer130is potentially more resistant to exposure to water than a spring.

FIG. 4illustrates an alternative embodiment of a computer mouse50. A connector170is coupled to the mouse circuitry via wires157and extends beyond the housing. The connector170is configured to accept a mating connector180on a cable182and is somewhat exposed to the environment outside the housing100. A computer mouse50having a fixed mouse cable55is susceptible to being damaged if placed in a dishwasher because the mouse cable55may become wound up in the dishwasher mechanism, potentially damaging the cable and/or the dishwasher mechanism. Therefore, the mating connector180of cable182may be disengaged from the connector170and a plug190, which may be made of a flexible plastic material, may be inserted into the connector170so as to protect the connector from environmental damage.

To secure and prevent the plug190from becoming lost, the plug190may be attached to the lower portion104via a clip (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, the plug190may be attached to the housing100via a tether192having a first end192amounted to the housing and a second end192bmounted to the plug. In an embodiment, the housing may also include a recess (not shown) for supporting the plug190while the plug is not otherwise in use. While the tether192is depicted as being attached below the connector170, in an embodiment the tether192may be attached to the housing100above the connector170so that the plug190does not catch or otherwise prevent the computer mouse50from smoothly sliding over the surface that the computer mouse50is resting upon. The tether192may be coupled to the plug190and the housing100in any desirable manner, including but not limited to being molded to, RF welded to or adhered to with an adhesive.

In an embodiment, the cable182may be configured to transmit digital signals from the mouse circuitry150and to also provide power to the mouse circuitry150. In an embodiment, the connector170may be configured for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable.

To provide a scrolling input115, a touchpad unit200is positioned so that a contact surface202is positioned between two buttons120. In an embodiment, the contact surface202may be covered with a protective coat203. The contact surface202may be any type of surface sensitive to pressing, such as, without limitation, a resistive touch screen. The touchpad unit200may be enclosed in a water impermeable layer and/or may be coated with epoxy (e.g. potted) or otherwise protected from water in a known manner. Insulated leads204may be provided to provide power to the touchpad and to provide signals to the mouse circuitry150. The leads204, which may also be a ribbon cable, may be sealed to the barrier layer130in any desirable manner including, but not limited to, an adhesive seal or an interference fit.

As can be appreciated, features ofFIGS. 3 and 4can be combined and/or omitted as desired to provide an appropriate configuration. For example, a computer mouse50could include a touchpad unit and also be wireless.

It should be noted that any desirable shape may be used. For example, a curved, ergonomic and aesthetic shape such as depicted inFIGS. 5 and 6may be provided. As depicted, the barrier layer fits between the lower portion104and the upper portion106and a sealing portion132of the barrier layer130is sealed to the power portion104. In an embodiment, the barrier layer130may be sealed to the housing100through the use of an adhesive or other desirable means such as sonic welding or the like. In an embodiment, the barrier layer130may be configured to provide an aperture134that aligns with the intersection of the member101and member103. In an alternative embodiment, the barrier layer130may include an aperture134that is positioned on one of the member101and member103and sealed thereto by any desirable means such as an adhesive or interference fit (in a manner similar to the sealing of the barrier layer130to member103ainFIG. 7).

As previously noted, the light source154may be a laser. In such an embodiment, a first passageway210may provide a substantially transparent cover212to allow the light from the laser to be directed on the support surface5. A second passageway220may include a second substantially transparent cover222to allow reflected light to be directed to the sensor152. To provide superior performance, one or both covers may be an optical grade plastic such as polycarbonate. As can be appreciated, the second cover222may be a lens configured to help focus and direct the reflected light unto another lens and/or the sensor152.

Turning toFIG. 9, a computer mouse50includes a housing100that has a first water impermeable region52and a second water permeable region54. To form the water impermeable region52, a water impermeable layer130′ is sealed to the housing100, which includes a top100aand a bottom100b. Thus, the water impermeable layer130′ and the housing100prevent water from entering the water impermeable region52, which is on a first side of the water impermeable layer130′, while water can enter the water permeable region54, which is on a second side of the water impermeable layer130′. Mouse circuitry150, which may include features as discussed above, is positioned in the water impermeable region52. It should be noted that the water impermeable layer130′ may be configured as desired and in an embodiment the water impermeable layer130′ may be molded in bubble like shape and mounted to a base of the housing100. It should be noted that if the housing100includes a compartment112that may be used to support a power source, a door114may be sealed to the base102by a gasket115. In operation, one or more input elements, such as a button120, can interact with the mouse circuitry150to generate a signal. Thus, the input element can be positioned in the water permeable region54while the responsive element, which may be a switch or any type of desirable element configured to detect a button press, is on the water impermeable side. This allows the computer mouse50to be washed without damaging the mouse circuitry150while not requiring the entire housing100to be water impermeable.

After a period of use it is expected that mouse will become dirty and/or less sanitary, due to exposure to dirt and germs and expected environmental factors such as dust and suspended particulates. Therefore, it may be desirable to clean the computer mouse. If the mouse is wireless, then the mouse may be placed in a water solution or placed in the dishwasher and be cleaned. The water may enter the water permeable region but will not enter the water impermeable region. If the computer mouse is coupled to the computer system by a cable, the cable can be removed. The plug, which may be mounted in a recess (not shown) configured to store the plug while the plug is not in use, may then be installed into the exposed connector. The computer mouse may then be safely washed as discussed above. As before, the water may enter the permeable region but the water cannot enter the water impermeable region and the plug prevents damage to the exposed external connector.

If water remains in the upper portion after the washing is complete, the mouse can be tilted so the water is allowed to drain. In an embodiment, the water may be allowed to drain out of a drain hole119. Any remaining water drops after the water drains from the water permeable region will dry in due course.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.