Abstract:
A hand-held or palm mobile mouse is contained in a mini hand-held shaped housing to be held in the palm of a user with a sphere arranged on the top easily and naturally reached by the user&#39;s thumb. The thumb of the user can rotate the sphere, which contains a magnetic core inside, to cause a corresponding cursor movement on a computer screen through a magnetically activated rolling movement detection unit or units and press down on the sphere to carry out click function commands or menu functions pointed to by the cursor on the screen. Alternatively, the magnetic core may be omitted by supporting the sphere on four free rolling roller units, two of which are used to implement the rolling movement detection function. There may also be key-buttons on the area where the user&#39;s fingers rest to implement click function by a user&#39;s fingers. There may also be a wheel/click button for cursor extension movement and click command functions. The mouse is pad-less, wire-less, freely used in any direction or position for the comfort of a user&#39;s wrist, and easily carried by a user for convenience. The remote wireless signals of the mouse or additional mice can be programmed for user identification, for added security. The mouse is a flexible and convenient input device for computers, especially miniaturized notebook computers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on copending provisional application Nos. 60/126,743, filed Mar. 29, 1999 and 60/147,729, filed Aug. 6, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to input devices for computer systems and more particularly to the construction, function, and design of a mouse used in computers, especially in notebook computers. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     At the present time there are a large variety of computer mouse and trackball designs. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,541 to Solhjell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,276 to Kwok, U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,019, U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,289 to Jasinski et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,919 to Nippoldt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,102 to Nassimi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,371 to Blonder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,148 to Anderson, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,334 to Hsieh et al. 
     As one of the major input devices, a mouse has become an inseparable part of desktop computer systems. There is no place for a mouse in a notebook computer system, however, because of the size of the mouse and its inseparability from a mouse pad. 
     There are many trackballs or track points developed for notebook computers. All of them are limited to cursor movements on the screen of the notebook computers. Conventional mice for cursor moving/placing, object picking, editing, drawing, painting, menu selecting, window opening and closing, etc. are not used in notebook computer systems. However, most computer users still like the convenience and click feeling of a mouse. It is also very hard to draw a graphic precisely in a notebook computer without a mouse. A notebook computer requires the user to use two hands or two fingers to draw a line—one hand or one finger to press a key or button to hold the start point of a cursor and another hand or another finger to rotate the trackball or track point to move the cursor to another location. This procedure is obviously very inconvenient. 
     Because the design trend of notebook computer systems is toward miniaturization: ultra-thinner, ultra-lighter, and ultra-smaller, there is no place in such systems for a mouse pad at all. Desktop computer systems too are being built smaller with mini-packed computer bodies and accessories. A mouse pad placed beside the keyboard of a desktop computer is typically sized at about 9 inches long×8 inches wide×0.125 inches high. The mouse pad requires a certain amount of desk space. Although wireless mice have been available in the market for years, many still depend on mouse pad for operation, rendering the remote control meaningless. Wireless mice or trackballs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,621 to Junod et al and U.S. Design Pat. No. 356,558 to Montgomery. 
     A wireless palm mouse is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,126 to Hilbrink et al in which the mouse has a trackball on the flat underside of the mouse for cursor movement as the trackball is moved along a surface and separate switch for point and click or drag and drop user-initiated actions. See also U.S. Design Pat. No. 381,661 to Althans, U.S. Design Pat. No. 378,086 to Sheehan et al; U.S. Design Pat. No. 340,042 to Copper et al. 
     A wireless computer input system using a pen-type input device and a receiver is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,981 to Paull et al. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,996 to Kim et al. A hand-held pointer control and input device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,018 to Pejic et al. Other patents of general interest relate to joysticks for use in electronic devices. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,128 to Grisham, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,892 to Corballis et al. 
     The certain inflexible operation position of a conventional mouse and trackball creates the potential for frequent wrist injury to the user. Because a conventional mouse is able to move only within the certain small area of the mouse pad, the wrist of the user is repeatedly and frequently hit and pressured without enough rest. 
     Conventional mice and trackballs are mainly designed for right-handed users. Right-handed users and left-handed users are not able to use the same mouse or trackball without difficulty. Left-handed users usually have difficulty finding suitable left-handed mice and trackballs for them. 
     A conventional mouse of a desktop computer system is connected to the computer motherboard through a cable. The cable has a certain and limited length. A cabled mouse or trackball, moreover, is designed for only a single user to operate the computer. It is not designed to share multiple operations on the computer screen with other users operating other mice or trackballs. It is not very convenient to use a single cabled mouse or trackball to operate a multiple of shared computer system screens for education classes, business conferences, computer graphic work, and Internet communications. 
     Many new data input devices which combine a conventional mouse and a trackball are large in size. These large size devices are not suitably incorporated into the design trend of mini-sized notebook computer systems. 
     Conventional trackballs and track points also are operated rotationally for cursor movement only, not for press-click function. 
     The rolling balls of conventional mice and trackballs are easily dirtied from contact with fingers and dirty mouse pads. The dirt accumulates on the round surface of the mouse ball or track ball and causes incorrect cursor movements on the screen. 
     Another disadvantage of a conventional mouse or trackball results from the use of passwords, as a security measure to access software in a computer system. A conventional mouse or trackball is not able to act as a secured key to open and close the whole computer system and fit into the pocket of the computer user when finished. 
     Therefore, in order to solve the foregoing problems and drawbacks, a need exists for a flexible, mini-sized, freely movable and storable, mobile mouse that fits in the palm of the user&#39;s hand during use, that will not become dirty from mouse pad contact to cause incorrect cursor movements, that has multiple playing functions, and that minimizes the risk of wrist injury. 
     OBJECTIVES AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a mini-sized, hand- or palm-held, wireless mobile mouse operable without a mouse pad which saves operating area when used with desktop computers and which may also be used with mini-sized notebook computers. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held mouse which avoids wrist injury because the user is free to move or operate the mouse in any direction while his or her wrist rests comfortably without strain or stress from confined movements of a mouse pad. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held mobile mouse which the user may easily use with either his or her right or left hand. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held mobile mouse which may by used in conjunction with other hand-held mobile mice for multiple playing of games or operation of computer functions on one shared computer screen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hand-held mobile mouse for a computer, such as a notebook computer, and a notebook computer and mouse system. The mouse comprises a housing having a shape designed to be held in a user&#39;s hand, preferably fitting within the user&#39;s palm, a sphere, preferably made of an elastic material and containing a round magnetic core inside, a rolling movement detection unit for generating a signal for cursor movements on the screen of the computer, a plurality of spring units mounted in the housing for vertical movement of the sphere to generate a signal to activate a computer programmed click function operation, a remote wireless signal unit for converting the signals from the rolling movement detection unit to signals transmitted to the computer, a circuit board or boards connected to the remote wireless signal unit, and a receptacle for batteries formed within the housing. Preferably, at least one click key activator is disposed on the housing for generating a signal to activate a computer programmed click function operation. 
     The notebook computer used in association with the hand-held mobile mouse has a remote wireless multiple signal receiver for receipt of signals transmitted by the mouse and a removable drawer under or in front of the keyboard to place and store the mouse. 
     By virtue of the compact mini-sized and pad-less/wire-less remote control, the present invention provides an extremely versatile mouse that is especially designed for notebook computer systems. 
     The hand-held mobile mouse of the present invention may be operated by a single finger by rotating the sphere for precise cursor movements and by pressing the sphere down for prompt click or double-click computer functions. 
     The rolling movement detection unit may be operated to transmit “X-” and “Y-” rolling motions through a magnetic field flux and magnetic force between the sphere rotated by the thumb of a user and a small magnetic ball within the rolling movement detector. The round magnetic core inside the rolling sphere rotates the small magnetic ball by moving magnetic field intensity and rolling magnetic force. 
     Preferably, the rotating sphere is not in direct contact with the small magnetic ball so that the small magnetic ball remains clean and lets the rolling detection unit precisely signal the corresponding movements of a cursor on a screen. 
     Alternatively, the magnetic core may by omitted by supporting the sphere on four free rolling roller units, two of which are used to implement the rolling movement detection function. The mouse may be programmed with personal passwords and kept in the pocket of a user for security reasons. By programming the remote wireless radio signal generated by the mouse itself for identification, a personal password may be applied to both software and hardware at the same time. 
     Additional details of the invention are contained in the following detailed description and the attached drawings in which preferred embodiments are illustrated by way of example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 partially broken away to show four freely rolling wheel units; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 indicating front, back, left and right sides; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the upper partial section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of the upper partial section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with two arrows indicating rotation movements; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a notebook computer with a drawer moved out to show the receptacle or socket for placement and storage of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a front-side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 12 is a left-side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a notebook computer with a drawer/socket for the placement and storage of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 15 is a front view of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 18 is a front-side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 19 is a left-side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 20 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a notebook computer with a drawer/socket for the placement and storage of the embodiment of FIG.  15   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Hand-held mobile mouse  20  is mini-sized and able to be easily held in the palm of a user. Mouse  20  has a relatively large elastic sphere or ball  24  able to be rotated by the thumb of a user for accurate cursor movements and also to be pressed down by the thumb for prompt click or double-click commands. Mouse  20  has a housing or body  22  provided at the top with an inner collar edge to partially surround the upper portion of sphere  24 . Mouse  20  also is preferably provided with a set of key buttons  38 A and  38 B for computer programmed click-functions to activate cursor pointed menu commands or screen functions of selecting, deselecting, editing, moving, drawing, painting, opening, and closing, etc. A box or receptacle  50  for batteries shown in FIG. 2 is formed within housing  22  having a battery door  52  as shown in FIG. 1 for inserting and removing batteries. The exact body design of mouse  20  may vary to make it easier to hold by a right or left handed user. Body  22  of mouse  20  is designed to be as small as possible. As electronic parts are built smaller, body  22  of mouse  20  may be made smaller. 
     Sphere  24  is typically made of elastic or similar material having a certain surface slipperiness for smooth rotation by a user. Sphere  24  can be freely rotated in any direction and pressed and released in an up-and-down direction when click function is desired. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a round magnetic core  26  (indicated by dot-dashed line) inside large elastic sphere or ball  24 . Magnetic core  26  is magnetized and cooperates with a small magnetic ball  28  inside a rolling movement detection unit  30  shown in FIG.  6 . Magnetic core  26  produces magnetic energy and air gap magnetic flux in the magnetic north pole and south pole directions. The magnetic energy produced and air gap magnetic flux may vary depending on the size of magnetic core  26 , the magnetic material, and the distance between magnetic core  26  inside large ball  24  and small magnetic ball  28  inside rolling movement detection unit  30 . Rolling movement detection unit  30  transfers the sensed rolling motions of small magnetic ball  28  into electrical signals to the computer for corresponding cursor movements on the computer screen. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, mouse  20  is provided with a two-sided touch down switch  34  disposed on a circuit board  48 , which may be activated to send a click command signal by either pressing down on large ball  24  or uppermost click button  38 A. The front-side button of two-sided touch down switch  34  is to be touched and untouched by uppermost click button  38 A. As shown in FIG. 6, pressing down on large ball  24  activates the same click command as pressing down on uppermost click button  38 A. 
     Alternately, two-sided touch switch  34  may be replaced with two individual touch switches programmed for the same click command, one for touch or untouch from rolling movement detection unit  30  as shown on FIG.  6  and the other for press and unpress from uppermost key button  38 A. The other two front-side touch switches on circuit board  48  shown in FIG. 2 are for press and release click functions of the other two key buttons  38 B on the outside of housing  22 . Alternatively, one switch and key button may be used instead of switches  36  and press buttons  38 B depending on the particular computer programmed operation functions needed for mouse  20 . 
     A remote wireless electrical signal unit  40  remotely (without a cable) converts the electrical signals from rolling movement detection unit  30  and switches  34 ,  36 , to the computer through a remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  58  shown on FIG. 7 preferably placed on the front side of the frame for the computer screen. The location, size and shape of remote wireless electrical signal unit  40  may vary according to various designs of circuit board  48 . 
     Circuit board  48  communicates electric currents and signals of rolling movement detection unit  30 , click switches  34  and  36 , and remote wireless electrical signal unit  40 . Battery box  50  is under circuit board  48 . The size of battery box  50  may vary as suitable for small batteries. 
     Mouse  20  is provided with four freely rolling wheel units  42 A,  42 B,  42 C,  42 D to support the upper surface of sphere  24 . The wheels are preferably as small as possible and may be provided with or without tiny teeth in order to provide users with a certain feeling of control in the rotation of sphere  24 . Alternatively, the wheels may be replaced with small round rolling balls or small long rollers. The holding bases of the wheels may also be disposed in a vertical direction to secure units  42 A,  42 B,  42 C,  42 D from the top of mouse  20 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of mouse  20  showing the location of the four freely rolling wheel units  42 A,  42 B,  42 C,  42 D (indicated by dot-dashed lines) holding the upper surface of large ball  24 . The four freely rolling wheel units  42 A,  42 B,  42 C,  42 D may be arranged so that two wheel units  42 A,  42 C are arranged across from each other in the horizontal direction and wheel units  42 B,  42 D are arranged across from each other in the vertical direction for smoother rotation of large ball or sphere  24 . 
     FIG. 4 is another top view of mouse  40 . As shown in FIG. 4, housing  22  of mouse  20  on the left and right sides is shaped wider than the diameter of large ball  24  and the front and back sides are narrower than the diameter of ball  24 . The back side (not shown) where the user&#39;s fingers hold mouse  20  is preferably flat so that a user can lay mouse  20  back side down on a smooth surface to use as a conventional mouse. When mouse  20  is placed back side down, sphere  24  will touch the smooth surface and will rotate when mouse  20  is moved along the surface. Click buttons  38 A and  38 B will face up as in a conventional mouse. With this arrangement, a left handed user may turn mouse  20  right side left and use it as a left-handed mouse. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, mouse  20  has four freely rolling roller units  44  to support a lower surface of sphere  24 . Roller units  44  form a square frame supported on a set of four spring units  46  to allow for up and down click movements of large ball  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, when large sphere  24  is rotated by the thumb of a user, the magnetic north pole and south pole pointing position of inside round magnetic core  26  (indicated by dot-dashed lines) are also rotated. This change in orientation causes small magnetic ball  28  to rotate inside rolling movement detection unit  30  in the reverse direction synchronously through the magnetic field intensity and magnetic force from magnetic core  26  and small magnetic ball  28 . Magnetic core  26  may be centered within large ball  24  or moved down closer to rolling movement detection unit  30 . 
     Because two like magnetic forces repel each other and two unlike magnetic forces attract each other in accordance with magnetic theory, magnetic north pole and magnetic south poles of core  26  and small magnetic ball  28  are initially aligned: when the north pole of magnetic core  26  is pointing at zero degrees of the magnetic north, the north pole of small magnetic ball  28  will be immediately attracted up to point at zero degrees of the magnetic north as well. In this condition, the cursor will be programmed to appear at a certain position, preferably at the center of the computer screen. When sphere  24  and inside magnetic core  26  are rotated in the clockwise direction of arrow  62 , small magnetic ball  28  will synchronously be repelled or attracted to an opposite rotation in the counter-clockwise direction of arrow  64 . Rolling movement detection unit  30  senses, registers, and transfers the rotation movement of small magnetic ball  28  into “X-” axis and “y-” axis motions to form digital signals that may be processed by the computer to produce corresponding cursor movements on the screen. The size and shape of rolling detection unit  30  may vary according to the inside electronic or electromechanical parts. A small circuit unit can be placed under rolling movement detection unit  30 . 
     Because there is no direct contact between large sphere  24  and small magnetic ball  28 , small magnetic ball  28  remains free from dirt accumulating on sphere  24 . In this way, rolling movement detection unit  30  is able to detect the rotation of small magnetic ball  28  very precisely, leading to the accuracy of cursor movement on the screen. 
     There is a contact point between large ball  24  and the top surface of rolling movement detection unit  30 . The top surface of rolling movement detection unit  30  may be level in the horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 6 or it may form an arch curve for more smoothly connecting and rotating sphere  24 . A set of two spring unit  32  supports rolling movement detection unit  30  for up and down movements forced by the up and down click motions of sphere  24 . The up and down movements of rolling movement detection unit  30  cause rolling movement detection unit  30  to touch and untouch the upside button of two-sided touch-down switch  34 . By arranging the two spring units  32  under rolling movement detection unit  30 , rolling movement detection unit  30  is able to activate touch-down switch  34  synchronously with the up and down click movements of large sphere  24 . 
     As mentioned previously, two-sided touch down switch  34  is designed to take the same command from either of two touch buttons: one touch button is on the top side of switch  34  to take touch connections from rolling movement detection unit  30  when pressed down by large sphere  24  when sphere  24  is clicked. A user may move his thumb on sphere  24  to place the cursor in a selected location and press his thumb down to carry out a selected command. In addition, the user may press down on sphere  24  while rotating sphere  24  for his next selected operation to produce a continuous corresponding cursor movement for drawing or editing purposes without shifting or using his other fingers or hand. Another touch button is on the front side of switch  34  to take touch connections from the uppermost click button  38 A similar to the left side click button of a conventional mouse. 
     FIG. 7 shows mouse  20  incorporated with a notebook computer system. A movable and separable drawer  54  is installed under the keyboard of a notebook computer  60 . The location of drawer  54  may be on the front side of computer  60  as shown in FIG. 7, along side the keyboard, or on the right or left side of computer  60 . A socket  56  in drawer  54  is provided to place or store mouse  20 . Mouse  20  may be laid back side down and placed into socket  56 . In this position, large sphere  24  is on the left side and all other click buttons  38 A and  38 B are facing up as in a conventional mouse with no pad and no cable. A user may easily use his thumb to rotate sphere  24  to locate a cursor on the screen and press click buttons  38 A and  38 B to carry out his commands. If left handed, the user can move drawer  54  to his left side, and turn drawer  54  one hundred eighty (180) degrees right side left. In this position, large ball  24  is toward the user&#39;s right hand direction. The user can easily rotate sphere  24  by his left hand thumb and press click buttons  38 A and  38 B with the other fingers of his left hand. 
     A remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  58  is preferably placed or installed on the front side of the screen frame as shown in FIG.  7 . The exact location, size and shape of multiple signal receiver may vary according to the various designs of notebook computers. Remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  58  is able to receive the multiple electrical signals sent from a number of hand-held mobile mice  20  and transfer those signals to the computer for corresponding cursor movements, menu commands, and screen functions on the screen of a computer. At the same time, the computer analyzes the electrical signals for programmed identifications recognized by the computer. The numbers for the computer-recognized signal identification can be set or the computer may be programmed to accept only one signal or any signal. The select function for the computer recognized signal identification can be on mouse  20  or on a notebook or desktop computer or preferably incorporated within computer operating software. 
     Optionally, rather than pre-installing remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  58  into a computer, receiver  58  can be connected to a computer through a cable plugged into a regular mouse cable socket in the motherboard of a notebook computer or desktop computer. 
     The hand-held mobile mouse  20  of the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-14 and is similar to the mouse of the first embodiment having a super mini-sized body  22  with a top inner collar edge to firmly support the upper portion of sphere  24 . Certain materials can be attached along the top inner collar edge to promote smooth rolling of sphere  24  and to protect against dust. A wheel/click button  260  and two key buttons  280  and  300  for mouse click functions may be provided to activate cursor pointed menu commands or screen functions of selecting, deselecting, editing, moving, drawing, painting, opening, and closing, and cursor extension moving. etc. 
     A set of four freely rolling long roller units  44  are provided to support the bottom of sphere  24 . A first support or board  440  forms a first floor to support small magnetic ball  28  and rolling movement detection units  66 ,  68  as shown on FIG. 11. A second support or board  380  forms a second floor to support freely rolling long roller units  44  and sphere  24 . Second floor  380  is supported on first floor  440  by four columns  400 . A set of spring units  46  installed under the four corners of first floor  440  support first floor  440  for the up and down movements caused by the up and down click motions of sphere  24 . A strong firm frame  480  supports spring units  46 . 
     A wheel/click switch  420  is located on first floor  440  for cursor extension movements in left/up or right/down directions and for click functions. The two front side touch switches  500 ,  520  are for press and release click functions of the two front side key buttons  280 ,  300 . Switches  500 ,  520  and press buttons  280 ,  300  may also be arranged as one switch and one key button depending on the particular computer programmed operation functions needed. It is also possible to use a wheel/click button and switch to replace the front side buttons/switches  280 / 500  and  300 / 520  for easy use by a left handed or right handed user. 
     There are two circuit boards  540 , 560  for communicating electric currents and signals of rolling movement detections units  66 / 68  shown in FIG. 11, click switches  420 , 500 , 520 , 70  shown in FIG. 11, and remote wireless electrical signal unit  40  shown in FIG.  10 . Battery box  50  is under circuit board  560  and may vary in size for suitable small batteries. 
     Remote wireless electrical signal unit  40  remotely (without a cable) converts the electrical signals from rolling movement detection units  66 / 68  and switches  420 ,  500 ,  520 ,  70  shown in FIG. 11 to the computer through a remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  74  shown in FIG. 14 usually placed on the front side of the screen of a computer. The location, size and shape of remote wireless signal unit  40  may vary according to various designs of circuit boards  540 ,  560 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, mouse  20  has a set of four freely rolling long roller units  44  to support the bottom of large ball  24 . The freely rolling long rollers may be replaced in whole or in part with small freely rolling round rollers. 
     When sphere  24  is rotated by the thumb of a user, the magnetic north pole and south pole position of inside magnetic core  26  changes and causes small magnetic ball  28  to rotate in the opposite direction synchronously from the magnetic field intensity and magnetic force between core  26  and small magnetic ball  28 . Magnetic core  26  is preferably centered inside sphere  24  and its size may be varied. 
     Rolling movement detection units  66 / 68  sense, register, and transfer the rotation movements of small magnetic ball  28  into “X-” axis and “y-” axis motions to form digital signals that can be used by the computer for corresponding cursor movements on the screen. The size and shape of rolling detection units  66 / 68  may vary according to the inside electronic or electromechanical parts. Rolling movement detection units  66 / 68  may also be replaced by any commercially available motion detection device, such as an optical motion detector which detects light points emitted by the wheel of the detector as the rolling roller rotates. 
     Because there is no direct contact between sphere  24  and small magnetic ball  28 , small magnetic ball  28  remains free of dirt accumulating on sphere  24 , and rolling movement detection units  66 / 68  are able to detect the rotation of small magnetic ball  28  very precisely, leading to the accuracy of cursor movements on the screen. 
     A set of freely rolling long roller units,  640  is installed on first floor  440  to support the bottom of magnetic ball  28 . It is also possible to install another set of freely rolling long roller units to hold the top portion of magnetic ball  28 . Preferably, magnetic ball  28  is coated with a slippery material to promote rolling smoothness. 
     There is a contact point between sphere  24  and second floor  380 . The top surface of second floor  380  may be horizontal and level or it may be curved to form an arch for smoothly connecting and rotating sphere  24 . 
     Production costs may be saved in two ways. The first way is to install a set of rolling movement detection units directly in contact with sphere  24  with magnetic core  26  and magnetic ball  28  removed. The second way is to have sphere  24  directly contact ball  28  through an open hole in second floor  380 . With this arrangement, magnetic core  26  can be removed and magnetic ball  28  replaced with a regular ball. 
     The up and down movements of first floor  440  through spring units  46  cause first floor  440  to touch and untouch touch-down switch  70 . By placing spring units  46  under first floor  440 , rolling movement detection units  66 / 68  will react synchronously with the up and down click movements of sphere  24 . 
     Click switch  70  is designed to take click commands from touch connections of first floor  440  when first floor  440  is pressed down when sphere  24  is clicked. A user can move his thumb on sphere  24  to locate the cursor and press his thumb down to carry out a selected command. In addition, the user can hold his thumb pressed down while rotating sphere  24  to effect a continuous corresponding cursor movement for his drawing or editing purposes without shifting or using his other hand or fingers. 
     A switch  80  may be installed on the mouse to turn on and off the computer, the monitor, and the mouse itself. Preferably, switch  80  is located at about the middle or above the middle of the right side of mouse  20 . 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the front and back sides of housing  22  may be shaped wide and the left and right sides narrow. The shapes and widths of all sides may be suitably adjusted depending on the preference of the maker or user. 
     FIG. 14 shows mouse  20  incorporated into a notebook computer system. A movable and separable socket/drawer  76 / 78  is preferably installed under or in front of the keyboard of a notebook computer  72  to place or store mouse  20 . Mouse  20  can be laid back side down and placed into socket  76 . In this position, sphere  24  is toward the left and click buttons  280 , 300  are facing up as in a conventional mouse without a mouse pad or a cable. A smooth open area is formed in the head of socket  76  for a user&#39;s thumb to touch the upper middle area of sphere  24 . The user can easily use his thumb to rotate sphere  24  to locate a cursor on the screen and press click buttons  280 ,  300  to carry out his commands. Socket/drawer  76 / 78  may be reversed for a left handed user. In this position, sphere  24  is toward the right, and the user can easily rotate sphere  24  by his left hand thumb and press click buttons  280 ,  300  with the other fingers of his left hand. 
     It is also possible to install a touch connector (not shown) on both mouse  20  and the wall of socket  76 . With this arrangement, when mouse  20  is laid down into socket  76 , the two connectors touch each other to have the same function as the remote wireless electrical signal sender unit  40  and receiver  74  to transfer the electrical signals between mouse  20  and notebook computer  72 . 
     As shown in FIG. 14, remote wireless multiple electrical signal receiver  74  is preferably placed or installed on the front of the computer screen frame. Notebook computer  72  may be programmed to analyze signals received by one or more mice  20  for identification purposes. As with the first embodiment, the numbers for computer recognized signal identified can be set or selected from one signal, two signals, and so on, or universal where the computer will recognize any signal. 
     FIGS. 15-21 show a third embodiment of mouse  20  which is easily held within the palm of a user&#39;s hand and is similar to the mouse of the first and second embodiments. Housing  22  is formed as a top and a bottom shell which may be opened or closed along an opening line. The opening line and manner of opening may vary. Housing  22  may have more downwardly extending curves along the top edge for more exposure of sphere  24 . 
     If desired, the bottom of the curves may be made straight or have any other suitable shape. Mouse  20  preferably has two key buttons  280 , 300  for mouse click functions and two screws  301  to hold the top shell and button shell of mouse  20  together. 
     As shown in FIG. 17, mouse  20  has a freely rotating sphere  24  which may be pressed and released in a vertical direction for click function. Sphere  24  may contain inside a small round metal ball whose size and location within sphere  24  may vary. Sphere  24  may be coated with a slippery material to promote rolling smoothness. 
     A set of four freely rolling roller units  361  support the bottom of sphere  24 . A board as second floor  380  supports freely rolling roller units  361  and sphere  24 . Another board as first floor  440  is installed for rolling movement detection unit  681  shown in FIG.  18 . First floor  440  and second floor  380  can also be used for additional electrical circuit boards. As electrical processing circuit boards and electronic parts are built smaller, first floor  440  and second floor  380  may be combined into one processing circuit board floor. A set of spring units  46  installed under the four corners of first floor  440  supports first floor  440  and second floor  380  and effects the up and down click motions of sphere  24 . A strongly firm frame  480  supports spring units  46 . It is also possible to use two vertical columns strong enough to replace the four columns of frame  480 . There are two short columns with holes  641 (only one shown) on the inner bottom shell and two other identical columns (not shown) on the inner top shell. The top and bottom ends of the vertical columns of frame  480  are inserted into the holes of those short columns  641  to hold frame  480  in position. Frame  480  also has two small triangles  481  to hold circuit board  540 . 
     The two front touch switches  500 , 520  are for press and release click functions of the two front key buttons  280 ,  300 . Switches  500 ,  520  and press buttons  280 ,  300  may also be replaced by one switch and one key button depending on the particular computer programmed operation function requirements needed for mouse  20 . It is also possible to use a wheel/click button and switch to replace front key button/switch  280 / 500 . 
     There are two electrical processing circuit boards  540 ,  560  for electric currents and electronic signals by rolling movement detection unit  681  shown in FIG. 18, click switches  501 ,  500 ,  520 , and remote wireless electronic signal unit  40 . It is also possible to use one electrical circuit board instead of the two circuit boards  540 ,  560 . A battery box  50  is under circuit board  560 . The size of battery box  50  may vary as suitable to accommodate small batteries. 
     A remote wireless electronic signal unit  40  remotely (wirelessly) converts the electronic and/or electromagnetic signals from rolling movement detection unit  681  and switches  501 ,  500 ,  520  to the computer through a remote wireless multiple electronic signal receiver  86  usually placed on the front of the computer screen frame as shown in FIG.  21 . Remote wireless electronic signal unit  40  includes at least one radio frequency stabilizer and one transmitter, etc. The location, size and shape of remote wireless electronic signal-sending unit  40  may vary according to the particular design of circuit boards  540  and  560 . An antenna (not shown) may be installed internally or externally to operate remote wireless electronic signal unit  40 . At least one memory chip or process chip(not shown), for example, a mini central processing unit chip may also be installed on palm mobile mouse  20  by mounting the chip on the circuit board for signal processing programmed functions communicating with the computer or computers or particular computer software applications implemented by the computer. With that arrangement, mouse  20  can wirelessly receive, process, and store electronic signals and data from a notebook computer or a desktop computer or the Internet. Preferably, remote wireless electronic signal unit  40  contains signal sending and receiving functions. 
     As shown in FIG. 17, there are two holes  341  on the top shell and two screw bases  661  on the bottom shell for screws  301  (shown in FIG. 16) to screw the top and bottom shells together. The location and size of screws  301 , holes  341 , and screw bases  661  may vary and preferably they are made as small as possible. The head of the top shell is first inserted or slipped into the head edge of the bottom shell and then the end of the top shell is closed down to the end of the bottom shell and two shells screwed together. 
     As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, there is a set of four freely rolling roller units  361  arranged in a square to support the bottom side of sphere  24 . Two of the four freely rolling roller units  361  are used to detect X-Y axial rolling movement functions. Those two freely rolling roller units  361 A,  361 B (not shown) must be arranged with a 90 degree angle to each other for “X” axis and “y” axis rolling movement detection. 
     When the user&#39;s thumb rotates sphere  24 , roller units  361  are forced to rotate. Two of them, roller units  361 A,  361 B transmit their X-Y axial rolling motions into rolling motion detection unit  681  for encoding of digital signals. 
     Rolling movement detection unit  681  senses, registers, and transfers the rotation movements of rolling roller units  361 A,  361 B into “X-” axis and “y-” axis motion to form digital signals that can be used by the computer for corresponding cursor movements on the screen. The size and shape of rolling detection unit  681  may vary according to the interior electronic or electromechanical parts. Rolling roller units  361 A,  361 B and/or rolling motion detection unit  681  can also be replaced or combined with any suitable motion detection device available in the market. Roller units  361  can also be replaced or combined with a track ball supporting device. The top surface of rolling movement detection unit  681  may also serve as second floor  380  and the bottom of rolling movement detection unit  681  as first floor  440 . 
     The vertical movements of first floor  440  and second floor  380  through spring units  46  touch and untouch touch-down switch  501  so that the movements of sphere  24  are translated synchronously into cursor movement and click functions. 
     Click switch  501  is designed to take click commands from contact with first floor  440  when sphere  24  is clicked and first floor  440  is pressed down. A user moves his thumb on sphere  24  to locate the cursor and presses his thumb down to carry out a selected command. The user can also hold his thumb down on sphere  24  while rotating sphere  24  for continuous corresponding cursor movement for drawing or editing purposes without shifting or using his other hand or fingers. This function can also be used in all track ball mice. 
     Four small triangles  701  (only two shown) are placed on the inner wall of housing  22  to hold the heads of the two horizontal columns of frame  480 . 
     Two small triangle members  721  (only one shown) and two dot members  761  (only one shown) are placed on the two vertical columns of frame  480  to hold one end of electrical circuit board  560 . One small triangle member  741  is placed on the inner wall of the bottom shell to hold the other end of electrical circuit board  560 . 
     Two small dot members  781  (only one shown) are placed on the two vertical columns of frame  480  and one dot member  80  is placed on the inner wall of the top shell to hold electrical circuit board  540 . 
     A switch (not shown) to turn on/off the computer, the monitor, and the palm mobile mouse itself can also be installed. 
     As shown in FIG. 20, housing  22  of palm mobile mouse  20  is shaped with its front and back sides wide and the left and right sides narrow. All sides, however, take any suitable shape and width. As shown in FIG. 20, there are four feet  82  on the top edge of housing  22  to buckle the top of sphere  24 . It is also possible to use two or three feet instead of four feet. Small round rollers or points may also be attached underneath feet  82  to promote rolling smoothness of sphere  24 . 
     FIG. 21 shows palm mobile mouse  20  incorporated in a notebook computer system. A movable and separable socket/drawer  88 / 90  is installed under or in front of the keyboard of a notebook computer  84  to place or store palm mobile mouse  20 . Mouse  20  may be laid backside down and put into socket  88 . In that position, sphere  24  is toward the left and click buttons  280 ,  300  are facing up as in a conventional mouse with no pad and no cable. The head of socket  88  has a smooth open area for a user&#39;s thumb to touch the middle to upper area of sphere  24 . A user can easily use his thumb to rotate sphere  24  to locate a cursor on the screen and press click buttons  280 ,  300  to carry out his commands. A left-handed user can reverse the direction of socket/drawer  88 / 90 . In that position, sphere  24  is toward the right and the user can easily rotate sphere  24  with his left thumb and press click buttons  280 ,  300  with his other left hand fingers. 
     It is also possible to install a touch connector (not shown) on palm mobile mouse  20  and another touch connector (not shown) on the wall of socket  88 . When mouse  20  is laid down into socket  88 , the two connectors touch each other to perform the same function as remote wireless electronic signal sender unit  40  and receiver  86  to transfer electronic signals between mouse  20  and notebook computer  84 . 
     While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that may changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.