Patent Publication Number: US-2011069009-A1

Title: Electronic device with cursor controlling apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device having cursor controlling apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Some electronic devices, such as notebook computers, are equipped with a touchpad for controlling a cursor on a display of the device. The touchpad performs many of the same scrolling and cursor positioning functions as a mouse. However, this is not a satisfactory solution for many applications. For example, while a compact trackball or touchpad emulates some mouse functions, especially in graphics applications where the user “clicks” and “drags” line segments to create drawings. Compared to the touchpad, a mouse has the advantage that it can be easily moved over a comparatively large area with a high level of control. However, it is inconvenient to carry a mouse along with a portable electronic device. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded and isometric view of an electronic device which includes a cursor controlling apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the cursor controlling apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block view of the cursor controlling apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the cursor controlling apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a block view of the cursor controlling apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an electronic device  50  includes a cursor controlling apparatus  10 . The electronic device  50  includes a base  56 . The base  56  defines a receiving recess  51  that is capable of receiving the cursor controlling apparatus  10  therein. A first connector  53  is located in the receiving recess  51 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the cursor controlling apparatus  10  includes a controller  11 , a touchpad  12 , a mouse module  13 , two keys  14 , a chargeable power source  15 , and a second connector  16 . The mouse module  13  uses wireless technology and can be, for example, optical or laser type mouse that communicates with the electronic device  50  via wireless communication. The touchpad  12 , the mouse module  13 , the keys  14 , the chargeable power source  15 , and the second connector  16  are respectively connected to the controller  11 . The chargeable power source  15  is connected to the mouse module  13  to provide power to the mouse module  13 . The second connector  16  is connected to the chargeable power source  15  via the controller  11  to charge the chargeable power source  15  when the second connector  16  is connected to the first connector  53  of the electronic device  50 . 
     The touchpad  12  and keys  14  are positioned on a top portion of the cursor controlling apparatus  10  for convenient access by users. The mouse module  13  is mounted in the cursor controlling apparatus  10 . A bottom side of the cursor controlling apparatus  10  defines an opening  18 . A light emitting component  131  of the mouse module  13  emits light out via the opening  18  to detect movement of the mouse module  13  on a surface. 
     The controller  11  is capable of controlling a work mode of the cursor controlling apparatus  10 . When the controller  11  detects the second connector  16  is connected to the first connector  53  (i.e. the apparatus  10  is in the recess  51 ), the controller  11  enables the touchpad  12  and disables the mouse module  13  to work in a touchpad mode. The touchpad  12  can communicate with the electronic device  50  via the first and second connectors  53 ,  16  to control movement of a cursor on a display of the electronic device  50 . When the controller  11  detects the second connector  16  is disconnected from the first connector  53  (i.e. the apparatus  10  has been removed from the recess  11 ), the controller enables the mouse module  13  and disables the touchpad  12  to work in a mouse mode. Then, a user handles the apparatus  10  as they would any mouse and the mouse module  13  can communicate with the electronic device  50  via the first and second connectors  53 ,  16  to control movement of a cursor on the display of the electronic device  50 . In mouse mode, the chargeable power source  15  provides power to the mouse module  13 . 
     The keys  14  are used to emulate functions of left and right keys of a normal mouse. 
     To use the cursor controlling apparatus  10  in touchpad mode, the cursor controlling apparatus  10  is put in the receiving recess  51 . The second connector  16  of the cursor controlling apparatus  10  is connected to the first connector  53 . The controller  11  detects the connection of the first and second connectors  16 ,  53 , thereby enabling the touchpad  12  and disabling the mouse module  13 . Simultaneously, the electronic device  50  charges the chargeable power source  15  via the first and second connectors  16 ,  53 . 
     To use the cursor controlling apparatus  10  in mouse mode, the cursor controlling apparatus  10  is removed from the receiving recess  51 , disconnecting the second connector  16  from the first connector  53 . The controller  11  enables the mouse module  13  and disables the touchpad  12 . The chargeable power source  15  provides power to the mouse module  13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , another embodiment of the cursor controlling apparatus  30  is shown. The cursor controlling apparatus  30  includes a controller  31 , a touchpad  32 , a mouse module  33 , two keys  34 , and a second connector  36 . The cursor controlling apparatus  30  is similar to the cursor controlling apparatus  10 , except that the mouse module  33  is a wire mouse and includes a wire  334 , and does not need additional power source to provide power. The wire  334  is capable of communicating with the electronic device  50  when the cursor controlling apparatus  30  works in the mouse mode, and of being housed in the cursor controlling apparatus  30  when the cursor controlling apparatus  30  works in the touchpad mode. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.