Abstract:
An integrated mouse or trackball system includes either a wired interface for the mouse or trackball device, or else a wireless receiver coupled to a wired or wireless relay keyboard. Positioning structures are included for optionally enabling the mouse or trackball device to be coupled to the interface device or receiver from either a right-hand or left-hand side of the keyboard, or from both sides of the keyboard. The positioning structures may including notches on left and right sides of the keyboard for accommodating leads or receivers, complementary pin/aperture sets for positioning receivers on either side of the keyboard or at a selected orientation at the center of the keyboard, or selectively positioned signal guiding means for guiding wireless signals from either the left or right side of the keyboard to a receiver positioned at a center of the keyboard.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a mouse or trackball device assembly that permits selection of the position of a receiver to provide a rational and neat, simplified desktop layout, the mouse or trackball device including a board-type interface providing electro-mechanical, photo-electrical, sensitizer, piezoelectric, capacitor, or static cursor control, with or without a ball. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     For quite some time, either keyboards, mice, and trackballs have been used as control interfaces for simple input of 15 computerized data. Traditionally, linkage of a computer main unit with a keyboard, mouse, or trackball has been accomplished by a wired or wireless means, with the wired linkage mode executed by having an independent lead run from the keyboard, mouse, or trackball individually to the computer main unit, or instead the keyboard, mouse, or trackball is built integrally with the main unit. As to the wireless mode of coupling, execution is either by way of a built-in receiver or else by external addition of a common or separate receiver for use with the keyboard, mouse, and/or trackball, the receiver being coupled through radio transmission to provide a cursor operation, scroll, or key-in function. A problem with the wired coupling employed by a conventional computer main unit in conjunction with a keyboard, mouse, trackball is that the plurality of leads in use and the relatively longer lead running distance can often result in leads intertwining each other in a mess. A problem with the wireless coupling mode, on the other hand, is that the necessity to install more devices causes difficulties related to device-to-device interaction, mutual shielding, and interference, and elevated costs, which is a real nuisance indeed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides an integrated mouse or trackball assembly system having a receiver, the location of which may be determined at the user&#39;s option. Essentially, the invention provides for a receiver device incorporating a wired interface or a cordless receiver to be coupled to a relay keyboard assembly featuring a wired or cordless output capability, complete with a mechanism for mounting the receiver device laterally or in other directions, that is, characterized by the provision of a wired or cordless output relay keyboard assembly as an operational relay associating the receiver on the mouse or trackball device with the main unit, the wireless transmission including wireless coupling optionally utilizing infrared or ultrasound to allow for separate, independent manipulation of the mouse or trackball. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of the invention embodied in a wired coupling mode of execution; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of what is shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of the invention executed in a wireless transmission coupling mode under a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of what is shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling a wireless transmission coupling mode under a third embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is an illustration of the invention executed in a wireless transmission coupling mode under a fourth embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a partially taken three-dimensional perspective view of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration of the invention executed in a wireless transmission coupling mode under a fifth embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial three-dimensional perspective view of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an illustration of the invention executed in a wireless transmission coupling mode under a sixth embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a partial three-dimensional perspective view of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a seventh embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial three-dimensional perspective view of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under an eighth embodiment; 
     FIG. 16 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a ninth embodiment; 
     FIG. 17 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a tenth embodiment; 
     FIG. 18 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under an eleventh embodiment; 
     FIG. 19 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling under a twelfth embodiment; 
     FIG. 20 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a thirteenth embodiment; 
     FIG. 21 is an illustration of the invention executed in wireless transmission coupling mode under a fourteenth embodiment; 
     FIG.  22  through FIG. 25 illustrate other embodiments covering infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball devices constructed according to the invention; 
     FIG. 26 illustrates the invention executed in a fifteenth embodiment pursuant to a wireless transmission mode; 
     FIG. 27 illustrates the invention executed in a sixteenth embodiment pursuant to the wireless transmission mode; 
     FIG. 28 illustrates the invention executed in a seventeenth embodiment pursuant to wireless transmission mode; 
     FIG. 29 illustrates the invention executed in an eighteenth embodiment pursuant to the wireless transmission mode; and 
     FIG. 30 illustrates the invention executed in a nineteenth embodiment pursuant to wireless mode of transmission. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first of all to FIG. 1, and FIG. 2, a preferred assembly of mouse and trackball device permitting selection of the position of a chosen receiver, executed in a wired mode of coupling, includes a relay keyboard  1  which consists of operational keys  10  arranged to be pushed against a corresponding pushkey circuit  11  which is coupled to the main unit  2  by keyboard transmission wire  12 . The relay keyboard  1  features wire retaining notches  102  on both sides of the bottom chassis  101 , pointing leftwards or rightwards. A relay wire  13  is furnished on chosen locations inside the relay keyboard  1 , lining tip side by side with keyboard transmission wire  12  or alternatively coaxially with a multiple-core cable for extension to the main unit  2 , either directly or through a plug socket coupling technique. Coupling to the relay wire  13  is accomplished by means of one or more, homogenous or dissimilar conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface sockets  14 , connected in series or in parallel at a central position inside the relay keyboard (FIG.  1 ). Independently installed wired mouse or trackball device  31  is coupled by means of a plug  312  provided on the end of a transmission wire  311 , for coupling with aforementioned coupling socket  14 . 
     Structured accordingly, the plug  312  for the independently installed wired mouse or trackball device  31  may be coupled to the coupling socket  14  for the relay wire  13  on the right side, left side, or any other side of the relay keyboard  1 , so that the transmission wire  311  may be retained in the retaining notch  102  on the bottom of the relay keyboard  1 , thus achieving substantial reduction in the number of wires in use and the overall length of the transmission wire for the wired mouse or trackball device  31 , and thereby saving the desktop from a mess. 
     Referring next to FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, a first preferred embodiment of assembly of mouse with trackball device permitting selection of the position of a chosen receiver, and that includes a wireless mode of transmissive coupling utilizing, for example, infrared or ultrasound transmission, comprises a relay keyboard  1  which having operational keys  10  on the surface and corresponding key circuits  11  coupled to the main unit  2  by way of a keyboard transmission wire  12 . The relay keyboard  1  features notches  103  to accommodate structures that facilitate wireless transmission on either side, or both sides of the chassis bottom. Relay wire  13  is concealed in a chosen position inside the relay keyboard  1 , with one end thereof coupled to the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , the other end lining up side by side with keyboard transmission wire  12  or coaxially with a multiple-core cable for direct connection or coupling by way of plug/socket assembly to the main unit  2 . The relay wire  13  is available for coupling to either side of the relay keyboard  1 , left or right, optionally from a point within the housing of the relay keyboard  1 . The aforementioned infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  is coupled to the right side or left side of the relay keyboard  1  for ultimate coupling to the wireless transmission notch  103 , where signals from an infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32  are received, thereby accomplishing a wireless coupling in which keyboard  1  serves as an operational relay, avoiding the need for component-to-component shielding and eliminating interference while realizing a layout conducive to the creation of a clean wireless transmission desktop environment. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the invention includes a relay keyboard  1  which consists of operational pushkeys  10  on the surface and corresponding pushkey circuits  11  built within. The pushkey circuits  11  are coupled to the main unit  2  by a keyboard transmission wire  12 . The keyboard  1  further features wire retaining notches  102  at chosen locations on the chassis board  101 , complemented with wireless transmission notches  103  provided on either side or both sides of the chassis. Relay wire  13  extends from the relay keyboard  1  with one end coupled to the infrared or ultrasonic receiver R 0 . The other end is directly coupled or coupled through a plug/socket assembly, to the main unit  2  by way of passage across hole  100 , in parallel with keyboard transmission wire  12 , or coaxially as part of a multiple-core cable. The relay wire  13  is retained in position across the retaining notch  102  on the bottom of the relay keyboard  1 , while the above-mentioned infrared or ultrasonic receiver R 0  is mounted on the notch  103  on the left side or right side of the relay keyboard  1  to receive a signal from the infrared or ultrasonic wireless mouse or trackball device  32 . 
     In a third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 6, a relay wire  13  corresponding to that of the second embodiment may further be connected to one or more similar or dissimilar, conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or other interface sockets  14  laid straight, in parallel, or by means of a coupling interface, in a chosen central position of the relay keyboard. A plug R 04  may be coupled to the coupling socket  14  on one end of the transmission wire R 03  of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , for optional mounting and coupling to a wireless transmission notch  103  on the right side or left of the relay keyboard  1 , allowing for coupling from the relay wire  13  by way of the socket  14 . 
     According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, which is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 5, as illustrated in FIG.  7  and FIG. 8 a plurality of holes  104  are laid out geometrically, in an annular or other configuration at a chosen location on the wireless transmission notches  103  on either or both sides of the relay keyboard  1 , and are complemented with one or more corresponding pins R 01  on the bottom of the housing of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , so that by matching pin R 01  with pin-hole  104 , it is possible to choose a desired signal pickup direction and to obtain stable securing effects. 
     Similarly, in a fifth embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG.  9  and FIG. 10, and corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, one or more annularly deployed or otherwise geometrically distributed pin-holes  104  are situated at chosen locations on the notch  103  in the right side or left side of the relay keyboard  1 , and one or more complementary pins R 01  are present on the bottom of the housing of independently installed infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , so that random coupling of pins R 01  with pin-holes  104  will serve to set the signal pickup direction. It is further possible to provide one or more similar or dissimilar conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or any other special purpose interface sockets  14  at a central position inside the relay keyboard  1 , to be coupled by a plug R 04  provided on one end of the transmission wire R 03  of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , to facilitate random selection of and coupling to the wireless transmission notch  103  on the left or right side of the relay keyboard  1 . 
     Referring to FIG.  11  and FIG. 12, a sixth embodiment incorporating wireless transmission such as infrared or ultrasonic waves, comprises essentially a relay keyboard  1  which consists of operational pushkeys on the surface corresponding to a pushkey circuit  11  which in turn is coupled to the main unit  2  by way of a keyboard transmission wire  12 , the keyboard  1  further featuring a wireless transmission notch  103  present on either side or both sides of the housing of the relay keyboard  1 . A relay wire  13  is positioned at a chosen location within the relay keyboard  1  so that the mid-terminal lines up side by side with the keyboard transmission wire  12  or coaxially with a multiple-core cable, the relay wire extending straight to the main unit  2  or being connected therewith by way of a socket/plug assembly, while the other end of the relay wire  13  is coupled to a chosen location in the neighborhood of the wireless transmission notch  103 . One or more similar or dissimilar conventional PS 2 , notch  103 , USB, serial or any other special purpose interface sockets  15 , meant for direct parallel or roundabout coupling interconnection, are attached for coupling to correspondingly provided PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface plug R 02  to an infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  on the aforementioned right side or left side. 
     In the seventh embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14, at a chosen location on the periphery of the PS 2 , USB, serial or special purpose interface socket  15  associated  10 th the relay keyboard  1  pursuant to the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  11  and FIG. 12, are deployed, in an annular layout or other geometrical distribution, a plurality-of pin-holes  104  that correspond to one or more pins R 01  deployed on the bottom of housing of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , so that by matching pins R 01  with pin-holes  104 , it is possible to randomly but securely set the signal emission angular position. 
     FIG. 15 shows an eighth embodiment of the invention, including a relay keyboard  1  which consists of an operational pushkey  10  corresponding to a pushkey circuit  11  which is coupled by means of a keyboard transmission wire  12  to the main unit  2 , the keyboard  1  providing for a larger wireless transmission notch  103  on either side or both sides of the bottom of the housing of the relay keyboard  1 . Relay wire  13  is mounted at a chosen location within the relay keyboard  1 , with one lend lining up side by side with keyboard transmission wire  12 , or, coaxial with a multiple core cable for extension to or byway of a plug/socket assembly to the main unit  2 , while the other end is coupled to a similar or dissimilar, conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface socket  15 , directly in parallel or through an interface coupling technique, the PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface socket  15  being available for mounting centrally on the relay keyboard  1  or any other chosen location where needed. In addition, the socket  15  may be coupled with any infrared or ultrasonic pickup receiver R 0  furnished with a counterpart plug R 02  corresponding thereto (as shown in FIG.  14 ), for receiving wireless signals from an independently installed infrared or ultrasonic wireless mouse or trackball device  32 . 
     FIG. 16 shows a ninth embodiment of the invention which enables selection of the position of the receiver of FIG. 15, in which a plurality of pin-holes  104 , in an annular or otherwise geometric layout, are located around the PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose socket  15  of the relay keyboard  1 , and arranged to cooperate with one or more pins R 01 , identical to the ones shown in FIG. 14, at corresponding locations on the bottom of housing of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , so that coupling of both pins R 01  and pin-holes  104  with each other will suffice to securely set the signal emission direction in the tenth embodiment pursuant to FIG. 17, the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  and the relay keyboard  1  are integral, instead of being separately structured, and mounted on the upper side of the bottom chassis of the relay keyboard  1  to pick up emission signals coming from the independently installed infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32 . 
     FIG. 18 shows an eleventh embodiment, meant for wireless coupling, including an infrared or ultrasound transmission mode of coupling, in which relay keyboard  1  again includes operational pushkeys on the surface complemented with corresponding pushkey circuits  11  which in turn are coupled to the main unit  2  by keyboard transmission wire  12 . The keyboard  1  also features notch  103  for wireless transmission on either or both sides of the bottom of the chassis thereof. Relay wire  13  is located in a chosen spot inside the relay keyboard  1 , with one end in the form of a row of wires extending side by side with keyboard transmission wire  12 , or coaxial with a multiple-core cable, and connected directly or by means of a socketplug assembly to the main unit  2 . The other end is coupled to the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  which may be united piece by piece with the relay keyboard  1 , or as per the twelfth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19, structured integral with the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , by attaching it to the upper, lower, or any side of the chassis of the relay keyboard  1 . The bottom side of the relay keyboard  1  is, in addition, furnished with one or more refractors  105  on the interior wall, where suitable the refractor  105  being composed of one or more infrared or ultrasound signal reflectors of specific geometric configuration, mounted onto the inner wall of the relay keyboard  1 . Alternatively, a selected position on the innerwall of the relay keyboard  1  may be processed into a specific configuration and applied with material responsive to infrared or ultrasound waves or the chosen position may be applied with material reflective to incident infrared or ultrasound waves, in order that by the intervention of the refractor means  105  the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  may pick up signals transmitted by the infrared or ultrasound emission circuit associated with the infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32  installed independently on either or both sides, or any other chosen location relative to the relay keyboard  1 . This arrangement will help eliminate the need for component-to-component shielding and interferenced effects, so that the overall layout on the desktop may turn out to be neat and clean beyond what was ever possible before. 
     In a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 20, one or more separate or integral mouse pads  106  are provided on a chosen side and angle, or on both sides at a chosen angular setting, to serve as an operation platform for an independently installed wireless mouse or trackball device  32 . In addition, a charging battery socket  107  may be installed on a chosen wall edge of the aforementioned mouse pad or pads  106 , and a corresponding charging coupling assembly  321  may be installed at a corresponding position on the aforementioned infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32 , so as to offer charging of the infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball  32  during off-duty hours. 
     In a fourteenth embodiment of the invention assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a charging socket assembly  107  relying for its power source on the main unit interface power supply may be installed on one side or both sides, or on a wall edge of a chosen angular setting on one or both sides of the relay keyboard  1 , and a corresponding coupling assembly  321  may be installed on the infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32 , serving to charge same device  32  during off-duty hours. 
     Additionally, the independently installed infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32 , may not only incorporate one set of infrared or ultrasound emission circuit assembly comprising LED components for infrared or ultrasound transmission purposes, mounted at a chosen angular setting, but also may include the following features: 
     (1) Circuitry for providing one or more additional infrared signal receiving/transmitting channels incorporated into the infrared or ultrasound wireless mouse or trackball device  32  so as to provide two or more infrared or ultrasound emission orientations; each Tx/Rx port being separated from the casing by an infrared or ultrasound partition board or block  322  so as to admit selective blocking of a part of the Tx/Rx port  323  in compliance with operational requirements and thereby minimize interference, as illustrated in FIG.  22  through FIG.  25 : 
     (2) Two or more sets of infrared or ultrasound emission units sharing a same set of emission circuit assemblies may be mounted at a chosen angular setting on the wireless mouse or trackball device, and switching means may be provided in parallel where needed to allow for selective operation of the infrared or ultrasound emission units as executed through right-hand or left-hand manipulations, as illustrated in FIG.  22  through FIG.  25 : 
     (3) A socket allowing for accommodation of the emission circuit assembly  321  may be provided in two or more sets at a chosen angular setting in the emission head of the wireless mouse or trackball device  32 , to allow for integration of emission circuit assembly  321  with a socket/plug assembly where needed, on one side, while the other side is isolated by an insulation plug  322 ; 
     (4) Apart from being expanded in a single dimension (ID), the emission angle of one or two infrared or ultrasound emission units for the wireless mouse or trackball  32 , may be expanded in a third dimension. 
     In addition to accommodating the infrared or ultrasound receiver, R 0 , the conventional PS 2 , USB, serial, or any other special purpose interface plug or socket assembly  14  or  15  may instead accommodate wired mouse or trackball device  31  where needed. For example, where it is impractical to make use of the independently installed wireless mouse or trackball device  32 , wireless arid wired systems can be applied equally effectively on a same rationale. Where, in any of the aforementioned instances, the conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface plug or socket assembly  14  or  15  is employed singly or in two or more sets, it is also practicable to concurrently provide thereon one or more sets of (1) infrared receivers, (2) ultrasound receivers, (3) wired mouses, or (4) trackball devices  31 , as represented in the fifteenth embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 26, The two or more sets of plug or socket assembly  14  or  15  may further be mounted at other chosen locations which could be on two or more sides, or on one side and at least another position of the relay keyboard  1 , with at least one side or one position being furnished with two or more similar or dissimilar plug or socket assemblies, as seen in the sixteenth embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG.  27 . 
     Moreover, with the above-mentioned plug or socket assembly being furnished in two or more sets, each plug or socket may accommodate respectively a non-homogeneous wired mouse or trackball device  31 , or any other electric control, and further may be equipped with switching means where needed or appropriate, according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG.  28 . 
     Where the aforementioned relay keyboard  1  is in the form of a built-in special purpose interface socket assembly comprising a universal series bus (USB), high speed transmission IEEE 1394 interface, or another interface socket assembly (HUB), it may accommodate setting of the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 , or wired mouse or trackball device  31 , or provide interface access for units such as a DVD, CD ROM, CDR, CDRW, sweeping scanner, camera, microphone, speaker, or similar audio/video input/output assemblies or other electric controls, as exemplified by an eighteenth embodiment of the invention assembly illustrated in FIG.  29 . Moreover, other positions are available for selection are present on the two or more sides, or one side and another location of the relay keyboard  1 , and it may be also practicable for two or more sets of aforementioned USB, IEEE 1394, or other interface socket assemblies (HUB) with expansion capabilities to be accommodated to meet selection applications, as exemplified by a nineteenth embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG.  30 . 
     Among the numerous embodiments realizable pursuant to the invention the so-called infrared or ultrasound wireless coupling mode of execution is characterized such that, as associated with the relay keyboard  1 , the infrared receiver including an infrared detector; or the ultrasound receiver including an ultrasound detector, may be structured in a standalone housing for possible union by means including locking, engagement, bonding, hooking, retaining, vacuum suction, magnetic absorption positioning techniques or any other conventional technique so that positioning of similar or dissimilar conventional PS 2 , USB, serial or other special purpose interface plug/socket assembly  14  may be accomplished at one time and the assembly  14  employed to connect to relay wire  13  positioned on the relay keyboard  1 . Alternatively, the connection may be prosecuted directly by wire coupling, or both the keyboard and receivers may be structured integrally on a same common housing. If the aforementioned relay keyboard  1  and the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  are mutually independent entities meant for selective combination where needed, then one side or both sides of the relay keyboard  1  must be furnished with an ad hoc position reserved for bonding, locking, engagement, dovetailing, coupling, hooking, vacuum suction, magnetic absorption of the relevant socket/plug assembly, or the corresponding layout may involve abutting by the edge, with notched space good for infrared or ultrasound wireless transmission being provided in order that once combined, the wireless mouse or trackball devices  32  may find themselves favorably positioned in place for transmission purposes, vis-a-vis the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0 : the same teaching is true as of integrated symbiotic structure. 
     The various embodiments of the assembly of a mouse and/or trackball device permitting selection of the position of a chosen receiver in the operation of aforementioned infrared or ultrasound wireless coupling transmission, and are equally applicable to notebook computers in which the housing and the keyboard are integrated together. 
     More specifically, in notebook applications, the relay wire  13  is remodeled to connection inside the housing and the keyboard, with one end in line with the infrared or ultrasound receiver R 0  which is equipped with wire cords for coupling to either side, right or left, of the keyboard compartment of the notebook computer in question. 
     All that has been disclosed hereinbefore serves but to illustrate some representative models of the present invention in terms of its technical contexts, and is not intended to be limiting.