Patent Publication Number: US-2007105591-A1

Title: Wireless handheld input device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (1) Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to a wireless handheld input device, and more particularly to a wirelessly controlled input device that is capable of making network phone calls and using audio input method.  
      (2) Description of the Prior Arts  
      Since the resolution of conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions is too low, the computer generated video signals can not be properly displayed thereon. Therefore, it is difficult to extend the use of internet from the studying room to the living room. It is also the bottleneck for digitizing the living room.  
      Since the price of plasma display panel (PDP) and liquid crystal display television (LCD-TV) is gradually sliding down, it is for sure that the higher resolution and the larger sized PDP and LCD-TV will replace the traditional CRT television and occupy our living rooms in the near future. One can not only watch TV shows and DVD movies on the larger resolution TV, but use it as a computer monitor. In addition, the Internet accessibility will be extended from the studying room to the living room with the help of wireless broadband network. The user can then browse the web, play computer games, shop online, make phone calls, send and receive e-mails, download video-audio data, and take an online course, all in the living room.  
      However, it is difficult to use the conventional keyboard and mouse to control a computer or to surf the web, when the user is sitting on a sofa of the living room. Therefore, a new human-machine interface is needed.  
      For the reasons given above, the conventional devices are insufficient to solve the aforementioned problems, a new device that can solve those problems is thus deemed necessary.  
      Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself to develop possible solutions for the drawbacks mentioned above. At last, a new wireless handheld input device is developed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One objective of the present invention is to provide a wireless handheld input device that is light in weight and small in size, and can incorporate with a computer. The wireless handheld input device can be operated without spatial restrictions.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wireless handheld input device that can input and output audio signals, so as to make network phone calls and use audio input method.  
      Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a wireless handheld input device that employs the 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz radio frequency transmission module, which can achieve an operation range of approximately 10 meters.  
      Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a wireless handheld input device that is easy to use, structurally simple, and has a long life span.  
      In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the wireless handheld input device of the present invention includes a microprocessor, a signal transformation module, a wireless transmission/reception module, an audio input module, an audio output module, a keyboard and a pointing touch pad. The electronic modules, the keyboard and the pointing touch pad described above are miniaturized to the handheld size and capable of transmitting wireless control commands. Therefore, the input device of the present invention is used to remotely control an electronic product. The input device of the present invention is further incorporated with an audio input module and an audio output module, which allows the user to input and output audio signals. Therefore, the input device of the present invention is applicable to making network phone calls and use audio input method. Furthermore, the input device of the present invention is incorporated with a receiver of a computer or a terminal, so as to solve the problem of incompatibility between keyboard and mouse, and PDP and LCD-TV. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a front elevation of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a left side elevation of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a right side elevation of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates the usage of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention incorporating with a computer and a television display.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the usage of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention, which is incorporated with a network phone and an audio input method. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a wireless handheld input device of the present invention is illustrated. As shown, the wireless handheld input device of the present invention  1  includes a microprocessor  11 , a signal transformation module  12 , a wireless transmission/reception module  13 , an audio input module  14 , an audio output module  15 , a keyboard  16  and a pointing touch pad  17 .  
      The microprocessor  11  is connected to the signal transformation module  12 , the audio input module  14 , the audio output module  15 , the keyboard  16  and the pointing touch pad  17 . The microprocessor  11  is capable of processing the control signals entered from the audio input module  14 , the keyboard  16  and the pointing touch pad  17 . After the control signals being completely processed, the results are then sent to the signal transformation module  12 .  
      The signal transformation module  12  receives the control signal sent from the microprocessor  11  and transforms the signals. Then, the transformed signals are sent to the wireless transmission/reception module  13 , and input to the microprocessor  11 .  
      The wireless transmission/reception module  13  receives the transformed signals sent from the signal transformation module  12  and wirelessly output the transformed signal to an electronic product  2  that has a receiver  21  via the 900 MHz or the 2.4 GHz radio frequency technology. The electronic product  2  can thus react accordingly. Alternatively, the wireless transmission/reception module  13  can also receive signals sent from the remote electronic product  2 , and transfer the received signals to the signal transformation module  12 .  
      The audio input module  14  comprises a microphone for users to input audio signals into the microprocessor  11 .  
      The audio output module  15  comprises a speaker for playing the audio signals sent from the microprocessor  11 .  
      The keyboard  16  is connected to the microprocessor  11 , which comprises a plurality of keys for users to input all possible control commands.  
      The pointing touch pad  17  is connected to the microprocessor  11 , which comprises a vector pointing touch pad. The pointing touch pad  17  is often employed in a laptop computer for users to control the movement of a pointer by moving a finger on the surface of the pointing touch pad  17 .  
      In summary, the circuit modules, the keyboard and the pointing touch pad are miniaturized into a wireless handheld device, thereby controlling the electronic product remotely.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C , the front elevation, the left side elevation and the right side elevation of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention are illustrated, respectively. As shown, the front panel  31  of the wireless handheld input device  3  includes a speaker  32  and a power indicator  33 , a keyboard  34 , a pointing touch pad  35 , and a microphone. The left and the right sides of the wireless handheld input device  3  both include a button  37 . The bottom portion of the wireless handheld input device  3  includes a microphone connection hole  38  and an earphone connection hole  39 . One can see that the wireless handheld input device  3  of the present invention is indeed a miniaturized device and easy to operate.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the usage of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention, which is incorporated with a computer and a television display, is illustrated. As shown, the wireless handheld input device  3  can be incorporated with the receiver  41  of a computer  4 . The user can input data via the keyboard  34  and the pointing touch pad  35 , instead of the conventional keyboard and mouse. Thus, the control commands are wirelessly transmitted to the computer without spatial restrictions, and are displayed on the PDP or the LCD-TV monitor. Consequently, the user can easily access a computer  4  while sitting in the living room.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the usage of the wireless handheld input device of the present invention, which is incorporated with a network phone and an audio input method, is illustrated. As shown, the user can make a network phone call and input audio signals via the speaker, the microphone and the wirelessly connected network of the wireless handheld input device  3 .  
      In order to further manifest the non-obviousness and the utility of the present invention, a comparison between the wireless handheld input device and the conventional devices is provided in the following.  
      The Drawbacks of the Conventional Devices:  
     
         
         
           
              1. The conventional mouse requires an operation space. It is difficult to operate the conventional mouse at a location with only a restricted operation space.  
              2. Conventional network phone requires the use of an additional earphone and microphone. Therefore, additional computer accessories are required, which renders the operation inconvenient.  
              3. The conventional mouse is mostly wired, which has only a limited operation range and requires some assembly. 
 
 The Advantage of the Present Invention: 
 
              1. The wireless handheld input device of the present invention is light in weight and small in size, which allows the operation thereof without spatial restrictions.  
              2. The wireless handheld input device of the present invention includes an input keyboard and a pointing device. In addition, it is easy to use, structurally simple, and has a longer life span.  
              3. The wireless handheld input device of the present invention employs the 900 MHz or the 2.4 GHz radio frequency transmission module. The operation range can be as far as 10 meters.  
              4. The wireless handheld input device of the present invention can also input and output audio signals, which is applicable in making network phone calls and using audio input method.  
           
         
       
    
      While the invention 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 following claims.  
      In summary, the wireless handheld input device of the present invention can indeed satisfy the patentability requirements of the patent law, a grant of letters patent is thus respectfully requested.