Abstract:
An input device has a body and a battery that is retained in the body. A receiver is coupled to a computer via a cable, with the body removably engaging the receiver. The computer delivers power through the cable and the receiver to charge the battery, while the input device simultaneously transmits operational signals to the receiver for further transmission to the computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a wireless input device, and in particular, to a rechargeable wireless input device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Wireless input devices, such as computer mice, keyboards, game controllers and the like, are becoming more popular. However, the limited power supplied from the batteries used to power these wireless devices is a serious problem that limits the effectiveness of these wireless devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a rechargeable wireless input device which can be operated even when the battery is being charged.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rechargeable wireless input device that incorporates a wireless receiver.  
         [0007]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an assembly that includes an input device having a body and a battery that is retained in the body. The assembly also includes a receiver coupled to a computer via a cable, with the body removably engaging the receiver. The computer delivers power through the cable and the receiver to charge the battery, while the input device simultaneously transmits operational signals to the receiver for further transmission to the computer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded bottom perspective view of an input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the electrical components of the body and the wireless receiving unit of the input device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the use of the input device of  FIG. 1  with a computer.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an assembled bottom perspective view of the input device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an bottom perspective view of the input device of  FIG. 1  shown with the receiver positioned inside the recess of the body.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the input device of  FIG. 1  illustrating a modification made thereto.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the electrical components of the body and the wireless receiving unit of the input device of  FIG. 1  illustrating a modification made thereto. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a first embodiment of a wireless input device according to the present invention. The input device, which can be a computer mouse, has a body  51  and a wireless receiving unit  52 . The body  51  has a recess  511  which includes power contacts  5111 , a cable retainer  5113   b,  and a connector retainer  5113   a.  In addition, a charging circuit  512 , a rechargeable battery  513 , a power selecting switch  514 , a micro control unit (MCU)  515 , a detecting circuit  616  and a wireless transmitting circuit  517  are housed in the body  51 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the interconnections between the contacts  5111 , the charging circuit  512 , the rechargeable battery  513 , the power selecting switch  514 , the micro control unit (MCU)  515 , the detecting circuit  616  and the wireless transmitting circuit  517 .  
         [0017]     The power received by the contacts  5111  will enable the charging circuit  512  to recharge the battery  513 . The detecting circuit  516  can receive signals, such as coordinate detecting signals, buttons signals, or roller signals, from the movement and control of the input device. The MCU  515  will forward the received signals to the wireless transmitting circuit  517 , and the received signals will be wirelessly transmitted via an antenna  5171  to a wireless receiver  521 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the wireless receiving unit  52  has wireless receiver  521  and a cable  522 . The cable  522  has a first connector  5221  for coupling to a port of a computer  60 , and a second connector  5222  for coupling to the wireless receiver  521 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the connector retainer  5113   a  is adapted to receive the second connector  5222  while the cable connector retainer  5113   b  is adapted to receive the body of the cable  522 . The specification of the first connector  5221  and the second connector  5222  can be, but is not limited to, a USB (universe serial bus) type connector.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the receiver  521  has power contacts  5211  which correspond to the power contacts  5111 , and which are adapted to engage the power contacts  5111  when the receiver  521  is seated in the recess  511 . The receiver  521  also has a micro control unit (MCU)  5212  and a wireless receiving circuit  5213 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the interconnections between the cable  522 , the contacts  5211 , the MCU  5212 , and the wireless receiving circuit  5213 . The first connector  5221  couples the computer  60  and the second connector  5222  couples the receiver  521 , with the receiver  521  being powered by the computer  60 . In addition, the wireless signal emitted by the body  51  will be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless receiving circuit  5213  of the wireless receiver  521  via an antenna  53 . The received wireless signal is then transmitted by the wireless receiving circuit  5213  to the MCU  5212 , which forwards the received wireless signal to the computer  60  via the cable  522 . During this operation, the battery  513  will power the MCU  515 , the detecting circuit  516  and the transmitting circuit  517  in the body  51  through the power selecting switch  514 .  
         [0020]     As an alternative, the receiver  521  can also be coupled directly to the computer  60  (instead of being-coupled to the recess  511 ) and still receive the wireless signal emitted from the body  51 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , once the receiving unit  52  is placed into the recess  511 , the power contacts  5211  will engage the power contacts  5111 . Therefore, power from the computer  60  will be transmitted through the cable  522 , the power contacts  5211 , and the power contacts  5111  to the charging circuit  512  so as to recharge the battery  513 . In addition, the power from the computer  60  received via the power contacts  5111  can also directly power the MCU  515 , the detecting circuit  516 , and the transmitting circuit  517  through the power-selecting switch  514 .  
         [0022]     The power selecting switch  514  selects the source of the power used to power the MCU  515 , the detecting circuit  516 , and the transmitting circuit  517 . When the battery  513  is being recharged, the power-selecting switch  514  will direct the power from the computer  60  received via the power contacts  5111  directly to the MCU  515 , the detecting circuit  516 , and the transmitting circuit  517 . When the battery  513  is not being recharged, the power-selecting switch  514  will direct the power from the battery  513  to the MCU  515 , the detecting circuit  516 , and the transmitting circuit  517 .  
         [0023]     In other words, the battery  513  is recharged through the cable  522  that is coupled to the computer  60 , and the signals received by the detecting circuit  516  can be wirelessly transmitted to the receiver  521  while the receiver  521  is retained within the recess  511  of the body  51 . Therefore, the battery  513  can be recharged while the user is simultaneously operating the input device.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the receiver  521  can be placed alone (without the cable  522 ) within the recess  511  when the user wishes to bring the wireless input device to another working environment.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a modification that can be made to the input device in  FIGS. 1-3 . In  FIGS. 6-7 , the recess  511  further includes a data contact  5112  that corresponds to a data contact  5214  on the receiver  521 . The data contacts  5112  and  5214  are coupled to the MCU  515  and the MCU  5212 , respectively. When the receiving unit  52  is received in the recess  511 , the power contacts  5211  will engage the power contacts  5111 , the data contact  5112  will engage the data contact  5214 , the battery  513  can be recharged through the cable  522  (coupled to the computer  60 ), and the signals from the detecting circuit  516  can be transmitted to the MCU  5212  of the receiver  521  through the MCU  515  and the data contacts  5112  and  5214 , all while the receiver  521  is retained within the recess  511  of the body  51 . Thus, the MCU  5212  can forward the received wired signal to the computer  60  via the cable  522 . As a result, the battery  513  can be recharged while the user is simultaneously operating the input device.  
         [0026]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.