Patent Abstract:
The present invention discloses a mouse with thermoelectric power including a mouse body, a switch, a button, a thermal conductive sheet and a thermoelectric power generation chip. The thermal conductive sheet passes through the button and contacts with the thermoelectric power generation chip located on an edge of a lower surface of the button, so as to ensure the thermal conductive sheet to be frequently touched by a user&#39;s finger and thus provide a temperature difference required for the thermoelectric power generation chip. Moreover, the heat generated by the thermoelectric power generation chip can further be dissipated through a gap formed around the edge of the button, so as to maintain the thermoelectric power generation chip at the maximum thermoelectric power generation efficiency.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a mouse device, and more particularly to a mouse device supplied power with a thermoelectric power generation chip. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Here in the technology and information age, the computer and peripherals thereof has become a part of the daily life of everybody, and an important of the mouse, which is used as the communication between the computer and the user, is unable to be understated. As a result, all of the major computer related industries in the market has paid considerable attention to the mouse and invented a plurality of mice with various new functions or much more convenient in use. 
         [0003]    A kind of conventional mouse with thermoelectric power is already commercially available, wherein the electricity supplied to the mouse is generated by using a temperature difference principle.  FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an overall appearance and an operation status of a conventional mouse with thermoelectric power. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the conventional mouse with thermoelectric power  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  comprises a mouse body  11 , wherein a plurality of heat dissipation apertures  14  is formed on the mouse body  11 , a thermal conductive sheet  12  is disposed at a rear end of the mouse body  11 , and a thermoelectric power generation chip  13  is disposed on a lower surface of the thermal conductive sheet  12 . As a palm  15  of a user contacts with the thermal conductive sheet  12 , the heat coming from the palm  15  of the user is transmitted to a contact surface  131  of the thermoelectric power generation chip  13 , so as to heat the contact surface  131  to a high temperature T 1 . In addition, thermoelectric power generation chip  13  further transforms a temperature difference between the high temperature T 1  and an air temperature T 2  inside the mouse body  11  as an output electricity, so as to provide the required electricity for operating the mouse with thermoelectric power  10 . As a result, it is possible to activate the mouse with thermoelectric power  10  without using a battery. 
         [0004]    Referring to  FIG. 1  also, with regard to the mouse with thermoelectric power  10 , it should be noted that the palm  15  of the user may be unable to contact with the thermal conductive sheet  12  disposed at the rear end of the mouse body  11  because different users may have different sizes of the palms  15 , different operation habits, etc. As a result, it is probably unable to maintain enough electricity for operating the mouse with thermoelectric power  10  to some users. In addition, the plurality of heat dissipation apertures  14  formed on the mouse body  11  not only results in an appearance of the mouse with thermoelectric power  10  quite unsightly, but also is helpless to the heat dissipation efficiency of the air inside the mouse body  11  because the plurality of heat dissipation apertures  14  can merely enable the air to be transmitted into or out of an internal of the mouse body  11  rather than facilitates the air to flow and to dissipate the heat. As a result, for the mouse with thermoelectric power  10  unable to be generally suitable for various sizes of the palms  15  of the users and various operation habits, the thermoelectric power generation chip  13  thereof is frequently unable to provide enough output electricity because the high temperature T 1  is too low and the air temperature T 2  inside the mouse body  11  is not low enough. In such an instance, the conventional mouse with thermoelectric power  10  not only is unable to be operated but also has no battery to be replaced. As a result, the only solution is trying to deliberately touch the thermal conductive sheet  12  and to facilitate an air circulation between the inside and an outside of the mouse body  11  repeatedly, so as to enable the thermoelectric power generation chip  13  to accumulate the electricity until the electricity is enough to activate the mouse with thermoelectric power  10 . As a result, such a design is quite inconvenient and troublesome to the users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to providing a mouse device, and more particularly to providing a mouse device capable of supplying electricity by efficiently using a thermoelectric power generation chip. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a mouse with thermoelectric power, comprising:
       a mouse body:   a switch, disposed within the mouse body;   a thermal conductive sheet, disposed on the mouse body, the thermal conductive sheet comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,   and the switch capable of being activated by pressing the first surface, wherein the thermal conductive sheet is capable of being heated to a first temperature by absorbing the heat from a finger put on the thermal conductive sheet;   a thermoelectric power generation chip, disposed on the second surface of the thermal conductive sheet, and capable of transforming a temperature difference between the first temperature and a reference temperature around the thermoelectric power generation chip into an output electricity.       
 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, a gap is formed between an edge of the thermal conductive sheet and the mouse body, and the thermoelectric power generation chip is disposed adjacent to the edge of the thermal conductive sheet. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises an electricity storage device capable of storing the output electricity. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the electricity storage device is a rechargeable battery or a capacitance. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises a voltage regulator capable of transforming a voltage and a current outputted from the electricity storage device into a stable voltage and a stable current. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises a circuit board disposed inside the mouse body, and the thermoelectric power generation chip electrically connected with the circuit board. 
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment, the switch is capable of generating a left button signal. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the switch is capable of generating a right button signal. 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a mouse with thermoelectric power, comprising:
       a mouse body:   a switch, disposed inside the mouse body;   a button, disposed on the mouse body, the button comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the switch capable of being activated by pressing the first surface;   a thermal conductive sheet, disposed on the button and exposed by the first surface and the second surface, wherein the thermal conductive sheet is capable of being heated to a first temperature by absorbing the heat from a finger put on the thermal conductive sheet; and   a thermoelectric power generation chip, disposed on the second surface of the button, contacting with the thermal conductive sheet, and capable of transforming a temperature difference between the first temperature and a reference temperature around the thermoelectric power generation chip into an output electricity.       
 
         [0025]    In another preferred embodiment, a gap is formed between an edge of the button and the mouse body, and the thermoelectric power generation chip is disposed adjacent to the edge of the button. 
         [0026]    In another preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises an electricity storage device capable of storing the output electricity. 
         [0027]    In another preferred embodiment, the electricity storage device is a rechargeable battery or a capacitance. 
         [0028]    In another preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises a voltage regulator capable of transforming a voltage and a current outputted from the electricity storage device into a stable voltage and a stable current. 
         [0029]    In another preferred embodiment, the mouse with thermoelectric power further comprises a circuit board disposed inside the mouse body, and the thermoelectric power generation chip electrically connected with the circuit board. 
         [0030]    In another preferred embodiment, the switch is capable of generating a left button signal. 
         [0031]    In another preferred embodiment, the switch is capable of generating a right button signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an overall appearance and an operation status of a conventional mouse with thermoelectric power. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of an explosion and a cross-section of a main portion of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of a cross-section and an operation status of the main portion of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a schematic view of a detail of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a schematic view of a cross-section of the main portion of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5D  respectively illustrate a schematic view of a location of the thermoelectric power generation chip of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view of an electrical connection of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic view of an explosion and a cross-section of a main portion of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D  respectively illustrate a schematic view of a location of a thermoelectric power generation chip of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9D  respectively illustrates a schematic view of a location of a thermoelectric power generation chip of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to a further one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]    Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments of the present invention. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. In fact, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a through understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations are not described in detail in order not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0043]    In order to make up the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional mouse with thermoelectric power, both of the thermal conductive sheet and the thermoelectric power generation chip in the present invention are designed to a location equivalent to the button rather than disposing both of the thermal conductive sheet and the thermoelectric power generation chip illustrated in the conventional art at the rear end of the mouse body and forming the heat dissipation apertures thereon. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of an explosion and a cross-section of a main portion of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the mouse with thermoelectric power  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises a mouse body  101  and a thermal conductive sheet  102 , and a first surface  1021  of the thermal conductive sheet  102  extends toward a surface  1011  of the mouse body  101 , so as to enable the thermal conductive sheet  102  to form whole of a contour of the mouse with thermoelectric power  100  together with the mouse body  101 . A thermoelectric power generation chip  103 , which is disposed on a second surface  1022  of the thermal conductive sheet  102 , is capable of transforming a temperature difference into an output electricity, so as to provide the required electricity for operating the mouse with thermoelectric power  100 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of a cross-section and an operation status of the main portion of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3  further, a gap  104  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  is formed between the thermal conductive sheet  102  and the mouse body  101 , and the thermal conductive sheet  102  is formed by a structure capable of being pressed and automatically returning. When a user uses a finger  105  to press the first surface  1021  of the thermal conductive sheet  102  to lessen the gap  104 , the thermal conductive sheet  102  travels downward to trigger a switch  106  under it, so as to generate an input signal, such as a left button signal or a right button signal. 
         [0046]    In general, although different users may put their palms and fingers on the mouse with different ways due to their operation habits and the sizes of their palms, each of them will naturally put one finger on the button all the time for preparing to press the button for inputting a signal anytime. As a result, referring to  FIG. 3  also, when the user naturally puts his finger  105  on the first surface  1021  of the thermal conductive sheet  102  with a key function due to his operation habit, the finger  105  will be in thermal equilibrium with the thermal conductive sheet  102  and a contact surface  1031  of the thermoelectric power generation chip  103 , so as to maintain both of the thermal conductive sheet  102  and the contact surface  1031  of the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  at a first temperature T 11  higher than the ambient temperature, so that the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  can continuously transform a temperature difference between the first temperature T 11  and a reference temperature T 12  around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  into an output electricity. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 3  as well, the air around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  can be circulated with the external air via the gap  104  originally formed between the thermal conductive sheet  102  and the mouse body  101  without additionally forming a heat dissipation aperture. As a result, a pleasing appearance of the mouse with thermoelectric power  100  can be maintained. In addition, when the user presses the thermal conductive sheet  102  for generating the input signal, a movement of the thermal conductive sheet  102  further compresses and disturbs the air around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103 . In a word, the movement facilitates the air around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  to circulate, so as to maintain the reference temperature T 12  around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  at a lower temperature close to the ambient temperature. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a schematic view of a detail of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, while  FIG. 4B  illustrates a schematic view of a cross-section of the main portion of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  together, the thermal conductive sheet  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  comprises a plurality of edges, i.e. a first edge  1023 , a second edge  1024 , a third edge  1025  and a fourth edge  1026 , respectively forming a gap with the mouse body  102 , i.e. a first gap  1043 , a second gap  1044 , a third gap  1045  and a fourth gap  1046 . Here, the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  can be disposed at any location on the second surface  1022  of the thermal conductive sheet  102 . Preferably, referring to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5D ,  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5D  respectively illustrate a schematic view of a location of the thermoelectric power generation chip of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Here, the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  is able to be disposed at a location on the second surface  1022  of the thermal conductive sheet  102  adjacent to any edge of the thermal conductive sheet  102 , i.e. a location adjacent to the first edge  1023 , adjacent to the second edge  1024 , adjacent to the third edge  1025 , adjacent to the fourth edge  1026  and so on. As a result, the air around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  is maintained at a lower temperature almost the same as the ambient temperature because it is adjacent to the first gap  1043 , the second gap  1044 , the third gap  1045  or the fourth gap  1046  as shown in  FIG. 4 , so as to output the largest electricity by maximizing the temperature difference between the first temperature T 11  and the reference temperature T 12  around the thermoelectric power generation chip  103 . 
         [0049]    Next, an electrical connection status of the mouse with thermoelectric power of the present invention is further illustrated hereinafter.  FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view of an electrical connection of the mouse with thermoelectric power according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the thermoelectric power generation chip  103  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  is electrically connected with a circuit board  107  inside the mouse body  101  via an electrical connection component  108 , wherein the electrical connection component  108  can be practiced by, for example but not limited to, an elastic piece or a long circuit board disposed with a plurality of pins. Preferably, the circuit board  107  can also disposed with an electricity storage device  109  thereon, which is capable of storing the output electricity of the thermoelectric power generation chip  103 . The electricity storage device  109  can be, for example but not limited to, a rechargeable battery or a capacitance. In addition, the circuit board  107  can further disposed with a voltage regulator  110  thereon, which is capable of transforming a voltage and a current outputted from the electricity storage device  109  into a stable voltage and a stable current, so as to provide a required stable electricity for operating the mouse with thermoelectric power  100 . 
         [0050]    The present invention provides another preferred embodiment of the mouse with thermoelectric power as well. Referring to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic view of an explosion and a cross-section of a main portion of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the mouse with thermoelectric power  200  comprises a mouse body  201 , a button  202  and a thermal conductive sheet  302 . The button  202  has a first surface  2021  and a second surface  2022 , while the thermal conductive sheet  302  is disposed on the button  202  and exposed by the first surface  2021  and the second surface  2022 . There is a thermoelectric power generation chip  203  disposed on the second surface  2022  of the button  202 , which is capable of transforming a temperature difference into an output electricity. The button  202  is formed by a structure capable of being pressed and automatically returning. When a user uses a finger to press the first surface  2021  of the button  202 , the button  202  travels downward to trigger a switch  206  under it, so as to generate an input signal, such as a left button signal or a right button signal. 
         [0051]    The mouse with thermoelectric power  200  of the present invention and the mouse with thermoelectric power  100  of the present invention have the same main structures and operation theories, and the only difference therebetween is that all functions (including a key function and a conductive function) of the thermal conductive sheet  102  in the mouse with thermoelectric power  100  are together achieved by the button  202  of the mouse with thermoelectric power  200  and the thermal conductive sheet  302 . 
         [0052]    As the above illustrations described for the mouse with thermoelectric power  100 , the thermoelectric power generation chip  203  of the mouse with thermoelectric power  200  can also be disposed at any location, where is located on the second surface  2022  of the button  202  and contacting with the thermal conductive sheet  302 . Preferably, referring to  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D  and  FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9D  together,  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D  and  FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9D  illustrate a schematic view of a location of a thermoelectric power generation chip of a mouse with thermoelectric power according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively. Here, the thermoelectric power generation chip  203  is able to be disposed at a location, where is located on the second surface  2022  of the button  202 , contacting with the thermal conductive sheet  302  and adjacent to any edge of the button  202 , i.e. a location adjacent to the first edge  2023 , adjacent to the second edge  2024 , adjacent to the third edge  2025 , adjacent to the fourth edge  2026  and so on. As a result, the air around the thermoelectric power generation chip  203  is maintained at a lower temperature almost the same as the ambient temperature because it is adjacent to the gap. 
         [0053]    In the present invention, the thermal conductive sheet and the thermoelectric power generation chip are disposed at the location equivalent to the button rather than not only disposing both of the thermal conductive sheet and the thermoelectric power generation chip at the rear end of the mouse body but also forming the heat dissipation apertures thereon as illustrated in the conventional art. As a result, the mouse with thermoelectric power of the present invention can not only prevent the disadvantage that the conventional mouse with thermoelectric power is not suitable for every user, but also additionally provide a better way for the heat dissipation, so as to ensure maintaining the temperature difference and thus continuously to output the electricity. 
         [0054]    Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that there are other embodiments that are equivalent to the described embodiments. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6