Dual-mode mouse device

Abstract

Dual-mode mouse device (M1), including: - a first mouse (1) with - a control module (11), - a cursor position detection module (12) which is electrically connected to the control module (11), - a power supply module (14) which is electrically connected to the control module (11), - a wireless mouse communication module (13) that is electrically connected to the control module (11), and - a mouse connector (15) which is electrically connected to the control module (11), wherein the control module (11) transmits several control signals and is electrically connected to the cursor position detection module (12), the power supply module (14) and the wireless mouse communication module (13), as well as - a wireless signal transmitter-receiver (2) with - a processing module (21), - a first connection (24), - a second shot (25), - a wireless communication module (23) and - a USB signal processing module (22) which is electrically connected to the first port (24), the second port (25) and the processing module (21), wherein the wireless communication module (23) is electrically connected to the processing module (21), while the first port (24) serves for electrical connection to an electronic device (4), wherein, in the event that the first mouse (1) is electrically connected via a first wire (3) to the second port (25) of the wireless signal transmitter (2), a first mouse control signal from the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is transmitted via the first wire (3) to the wireless signal transmitter (2) and is converted by the USB signal processing module (22) of the wireless signal transmitter (2) into a control signal according to the USB communication protocol, which is then made available to the electronic device (4), and wherein, in the event that the first mouse (1) is not electrically connected to the second terminal (25) of the wireless signal transmitter (2) via the first wire (3), the first mouse control signal of the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is transmitted via the wireless mouse communication module (13) to the wireless communication module (23) of the wireless signal transmitter (2) and is made available by the processing module (21) of the wireless signal transmitter (2) to the electronic device (4) via the USB signal processing module (22).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouse device, in particular a dual-mode mouse device.

[0002] To control the cursor of an electronic device, a communication connection is typically established between a wireless mouse and a wireless signal transmitter / receiver. Alternatively, a wireless mouse can be equipped with a Bluetooth communication module to establish a direct communication connection with the electronic device. However, due to the considerable data transmission between the wireless mouse and the wireless signal transmitter / receiver, and the significant power consumption of the Bluetooth communication module, a correspondingly higher battery consumption or a correspondingly higher charging frequency of the wireless mouse's battery is to be expected. With wired mice, the connection to an electronic device is indeed wired, which significantly limits the usability of the respective wired mouse.However, since the wired mouse and the electronic device are in a wired communication connection, the energy consumption of the wired mouse remains unaffected by the amount of data transmitted.

[0003] US patent 2011 / 0084906A1 discloses a multi-mode mouse with adjustable size. The multi-mode mouse comprises a mouse body and a battery compartment. It features a connecting cable for attaching to a computer and a wireless signal emitter for generating a wireless signal. When the battery compartment is detached from the mouse body, the multi-mode mouse is in one size. When the battery compartment is attached, the multi-mode mouse is in a second size. The first size is smaller than the second. The multi-mode mouse is suitable for use by users with different hand sizes. Additionally, the multi-mode mouse can be used in wired mode, wireless mode, or while charging.

[0004] US Patent 2009 / 0027342A1 discloses an optical mouse (10) for controlling a computer display pointer (90), comprising a main body (12) and a connecting cable (14). The main body contains a wired module (40), a wireless module (50), and a battery module (80). The connecting cable is detachably attached to the main body and the computer. The connecting cable is configured to transmit electrical power to the main body and to transmit operating signals to the computer. The optical module is defined to operate in a connected mode via the wired module when the connecting cable connects the main body and the computer. The optical module is defined to operate in a wireless mode via the wireless module when the connecting cable is disconnected from the computer or the main body.

[0005] Therefore, creating a dual-mode mouse device that requires less data to be transmitted and combines the advantages of wireless and wired mice is already an important topic in the professional world.

[0006] Based on the disadvantages of the prior art, the object of the invention is to offer a dual-mode mouse device comprising a first mouse, a control module, a cursor position detection module electrically connected to the control module, a power supply module electrically connected to the control module, a mouse memory module, a wireless mouse communication module electrically connected to the control module, and a mouse connector electrically connected to the control module, which transmits several control signals and is electrically connected to the cursor position detection module, the power supply module, the mouse memory module, and the wireless mouse communication module, as well as a wireless signal transmitter-receiver.The wireless signal transceiver comprises a processing module, a first port, a second port, a memory module, a wireless communication module, and a USB signal processing module electrically connected to the first port, the second port, and the processing module, wherein the wireless communication module is electrically connected to the processing module and the memory module, while the first port is electrically connected to an electronic device.When the first mouse is electrically connected to the second port of the wireless signal transmitter / receiver via a first wire, a first mouse control signal from the control module of the first mouse is transmitted via the first wire to the wireless signal transmitter / receiver and converted by the USB signal processing module of the wireless signal transmitter / receiver into a control signal according to the USB communication protocol, which is then made available to the electronic device.If the first mouse is not electrically connected to the second port of the wireless signal transmitter / receiver via the first wire, the first mouse control signal from the control module of the first mouse is transmitted via the wireless mouse communication module to the wireless communication module of the wireless signal transmitter / receiver and made available to the electronic device via the processing module of the wireless signal transmitter / receiver and the USB signal processing module.

[0007] An advantageous effect of the invention is that, with the dual-mode mouse device according to the invention, the special design of the mouse and the wireless signal transmitter-receiver not only reduces the amount of data to be transmitted between the mouse and the wireless signal transmitter-receiver, but also effectively reduces costs.

[0008] To better understand the features and technical embodiments of the invention, it is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying illustrations. The accompanying drawings do not represent a limitation of the invention, but merely serve to illustrate it.

[0009] They show Fig. 1 a first schematic view of a dual-mode mouse device according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 a second schematic view of a dual-mode mouse device according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 a block diagram of a first mouse according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4. A block diagram of a wireless signal transmitter-receiver according to a Exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0010] Fig. 5 in schematic representation a second mouse according to an embodiment of the invention in cooperation with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver and

[0011] Fig. 6 in schematic representation a first mouse, a second mouse and a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the invention in cooperation with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver.

[0012] The following describes the embodiments of a "dual-mode mouse device" according to the invention, using specific examples. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the advantages and technical effects of the invention can be derived from the disclosures in this description. The invention can be implemented or applied in other specific embodiments, whereby various modifications or alterations can be made to the details disclosed in this description, depending on requirements and application, without departing from the fundamental ideas of the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that the individual components of the invention are not shown in their actual size, but only schematically. The embodiments described below serve to further explain the relevant configurations of the invention and in no way limit the scope of protection of the invention.

[0013] It is understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used to describe various elements or signals, should not be interpreted as restrictive. Rather, such terms primarily serve to distinguish one element from another or one signal from another. Furthermore, the term "or" used in this description may encompass any of the listed items or a combination of several such items. [First embodiment]

[0014] It will be on Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Reference is made, whereby in Fig. 1 A first schematic view of a dual-mode mouse device according to an embodiment of the invention, in Fig. 2 a second schematic view of a dual-mode mouse device according to an embodiment of the invention, in Fig. 3 a block diagram of a first mouse according to an embodiment of the invention and in Fig. Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a wireless signal transmitter-receiver according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0015] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the dual-mode mouse device M1 comprises a first mouse 1 and a wireless signal transmitter 2. The first mouse 1 is electrically connected to one end of the wireless signal transmitter 2 via a first wire 3, while the other end of the wireless signal transmitter 2 is electrically connected to an electronic device 4. In other words, the wireless signal transmitter 2 is located in a port of the electronic device 4. The electronic device 4 can be a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet PC, or a smartphone, which is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

[0016] In the representation of Fig. 2 The first mouse 1 is in wireless communication connection with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2.

[0017] The first mouse 1 comprises a control module 11, a cursor position detection module 12, a wireless mouse communication module 13, a power supply module 14, a mouse connector 15, and a mouse memory module 16. The control module 11 is electrically connected to the cursor position detection module 12, the wireless mouse communication module 13, the power supply module 14, the mouse connector 15, and the mouse memory module 16. Since, in the present embodiment, the first mouse 1 does not include a USB processing module, the signals with which the control module 11 communicates with the cursor position detection module 12, the wireless mouse communication module 13, the power supply module 14, the mouse connector 15, and the mouse memory module 16 are each simply an electronic signal format for communication between elements.This means that the signal format between the control module 11 on the one hand and the cursor position detection module 12, the wireless mouse communication module 13, the power supply module 14, the mouse port 15, and the mouse memory module 16 on the other hand is a serial peripheral interface signal (SPI) or an inter-integrated circuit signal (I2C). Furthermore, the signal transmitted by or received from the mouse port 15 is also a serial peripheral interface signal (SPI) or an inter-integrated circuit signal (I2C).In other embodiments, the signal format between the control module 11 on the one hand and the cursor position detection module 12, the wireless mouse communication module 13, the power supply module 14, the mouse connector 15 and the mouse memory module 16 on the other hand, as well as the signal format transmitted by or received from the mouse connector 15, can be freely designed according to the actual needs and is not subject to any restriction within the scope of the invention.

[0018] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the wireless signal transceiver 2 comprises a processing module 21, a USB signal processing module 22, a wireless communication module 23, a first port 24, a second port 25, and a memory module 26. The processing module 21 is electrically connected to the USB signal processing module 22, the wireless communication module 23, and the memory module 26. The USB signal processing module 22 is electrically connected to the first port 24 and the second port 25. The wireless communication module 23 is electrically connected to the processing module 21 and the memory module 26. The first port 24 serves for the electrical connection to the electronic device 4. In the present embodiment, the second port 25 is a plug-type connector. In other embodiments, the second port 25 can be configured as a socket-type connector.

[0019] First, the focus will be on Fig. 1. When the wireless signal transmitter 2 is electrically connected to the electronic device 4, and the first mouse 1 can be electrically connected to the second terminal 25 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 via the first wire 3, a first mouse control signal from the control module 11 of the first mouse 1 is transmitted to the wireless signal transmitter 2 via the first wire 3 and converted by the USB signal processing module 22 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 into a control signal according to the USB communication protocol, which is then made available to the electronic device 4. This is done by transmitting the control signal to the electronic device 4 via the first terminal 24 of the wireless signal transmitter 2.

[0020] If the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2 is electrically connected to the electronic device 4, and the first mouse 1, however, is, as in Fig. Since the first mouse 1 is not electrically connected to the second terminal 25 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 via the first wire 3, the first mouse control signal of the control module 11 of the first mouse 1 is transmitted via the wireless mouse communication module 13 to the wireless communication module 23 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 and converted by the processing module 21 of the wireless signal transmitter 2, using the USB signal processing module 22, into a control signal according to the USB communication protocol, which is then supplied to the electronic device 4 via the first terminal 24. Fig. 2. The first mouse 1 is indeed in a wireless communication connection with the wireless signal transmitter 2. However, since the first mouse 1 does not include a USB processing module, the first mouse control signal from the first mouse 1 is not in a signal format according to the USB communication protocol, but rather in a signal format according to a communication protocol such as the Serial Peripheral Interface Bus (SPI) or the Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C). Therefore, even after interpreting the radio signal transmitted from the first mouse 1 to the wireless signal transmitter 2, the first mouse control signal is in a signal format according to SPI or I2C, which must be converted by the USB signal processing module before it can be transmitted to the electronic device 4.

[0021] Since the first mouse 1 can be electrically connected to the second port 25 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 via the first wire 3, the first wire 3 does not require high electrical power, but only to transmit control signals according to SPI or I2C or similar communication protocols. Therefore, only one or more small-diameter copper wires can be used as the first wire 3. USB standard wires are typically AWG 20 to AWG 28 (American wire gauge), while in this embodiment, a wire of AWG 28 or less can be used as the first wire 3. Due to the small diameter of the copper wire used as the first wire 3, it is more flexible than ordinary USB standard wires. The first wire 3 is therefore highly flexible.

[0022] Furthermore, a mouse configuration setting value of the first mouse 1 is stored in the mouse memory module 16 of the first mouse 1. After establishing a communication or electrical connection between the first mouse 1 and the wireless signal transmitter 2, the control module 11 of the first mouse 1 can transmit the mouse configuration setting value of the first mouse 1 to the memory module 26 of the wireless signal transmitter 2 for storage. That is, the wireless signal transmitter 2 can participate in storing the mouse configuration setting value of the first mouse 1. In addition, a mouse actuation signal mapping table of the first mouse 1 can also be stored in the memory module 26 of the wireless signal transmitter 2.Furthermore, since the mouse configuration setting and the mouse actuation signal mapping table of the first mouse 1 are stored in the memory module 26 of the wireless signal transmitter 2, the first mouse 1, when connected to the wireless signal transmitter 2, can only send multiple actuation trigger signals to the wireless signal transmitter 2, whereupon, depending on the multiple actuation trigger signals transmitted by the first mouse 1 and on the mouse configuration setting and the mouse actuation signal mapping table of the first mouse 1, which are stored in the wireless signal transmitter 2, the wireless signal transmitter 2 can send mouse actuation signals assigned to the multiple actuation trigger signals of the first mouse 1 to the electronic device 4 in order to control the movement of the cursor.In this way, a significant reduction in the number of signals to be transmitted between the first mouse 1 and the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2 can be achieved, and a corresponding reduction in the energy consumption of the first mouse 1 can be achieved.

[0023] The control module 11 and the processing module 21 are each a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. The cursor position detection module 12 is a scroll wheel detection module, an optical detection module, or a laser detection module, which is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. The cursor position detection module 12 serves to control the distance and direction of movement of the cursor. In contrast, the power supply module 14 serves to supply the control module 11, the cursor position detection module 12, the wireless mouse communication module 13, the mouse connector 15, and the mouse memory module 16 in the first mouse 1 with electrical drive energy.In the present embodiment, the energy supply module 14 is a battery module.

[0024] The mouse memory module 16 and the memory module 26 are each a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically modifiable read-only memory, a erasable programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, which is not to be understood as a limitation of the invention.The wireless mouse communication module 13 and the wireless communication module 23 are each a WiFi communication unit, a Bluetooth communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, a second-generation mobile communication unit (2G), a third-generation mobile communication unit (3G), a fourth-generation mobile communication unit (4G), a fifth-generation mobile communication unit (5G), a LoRa communication unit, a Sigfox communication unit, or an NB-IoT communication unit. The mouse connector 15 is a serial port or a micro-USB port, which is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. Fig. 1. The control module 11 transmits several initial mouse control signals via the mouse port 15 and the first wire 13 to the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2.

[0025] Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a second mouse according to an embodiment of the invention in cooperation with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the user can establish a communication connection with the wireless signal transmitter 2 using a second mouse. When the user establishes a wireless communication connection or a wired electrical connection to the wireless signal transmitter 2 using a second mouse 7, the second mouse 7 provides the wireless signal transmitter 2 with a configuration download request signal and a second device code for the second mouse 7. Based on the configuration download request signal and the second device code, the wireless signal transmitter 2 then decides whether to send the mouse configuration setting value to the second mouse 7.If the wireless signal transmitter 2 determines that the mouse configuration setting value can be delivered to the second mouse 7, the second mouse 7 can download the mouse configuration setting value stored in the wireless signal transmitter 2. After the second mouse 7 has downloaded the mouse configuration setting value stored in the wireless signal transmitter 2, it can provide a second mouse control signal to the electronic device 4 via the wireless signal transmitter 2 to control the cursor. In the present embodiment, the first device code of the first mouse 1 is already available to the wireless signal transmitter 2.

[0027] Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a first mouse, a second mouse and a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the invention in cooperation with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver.

[0028] In Fig. In step 6, the first mouse 1 and the second mouse 7 are each in communication connection with the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2 and have the same mouse configuration setting. The first mouse 1 and the second mouse 7 can each transmit the first mouse control signal or the second mouse control signal, respectively, to the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2 to control the cursor of the electronic device 4.

[0029] Furthermore, the keyboard configuration settings of the keyboard device 8 can also be stored in the memory module 26 of the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2. The keyboard device 8 can transmit a key control signal to the electronic device 4 for data input via the wireless signal transmitter-receiver 2. [Advantageous effects of the exemplary embodiments]

[0030] An advantageous effect of the invention is that, with the dual-mode mouse device according to the invention, the special design of the mouse and the wireless signal transmitter-receiver not only reduces the amount of data to be transmitted between the mouse and the wireless signal transmitter-receiver, but also effectively reduces costs.

[0031] The above description does not constitute a limitation of the patent claims of the invention, but merely serves to illustrate possible preferred embodiments of the invention. Any equivalent modification that can be derived from the description or the drawings of the invention therefore falls within the scope of protection of the patent claims. Reference symbol list 1 First Mouse 2 Wireless signal transmitter / receiver 3 First wire 4 Electronic device M1 Dual Mode Mouse Device 11 Control module 12 Cursor position detection module 13 Wireless Mouse Communication Module 14 Power supply module 15 mouse ports 16 Mouse memory module 21 Processing module 22 USB signal processing module 23 Wireless communication module 24 First connection 25 Second connection 26 memory module 7 Second Mouse 8 Keyboard device

Claims

[1] Dual-mode mouse device (M1), comprising: - a first mouse (1) with - a control module (11), - a cursor position detection module (12) electrically connected to the control module (11), - a power supply module (14) electrically connected to the control module (11), - a wireless mouse communication module (13) electrically connected to the control module (11), and - a mouse connector (15) electrically connected to the control module (11), wherein the control module (11) transmits a plurality of control signals and is electrically connected to the cursor position detection module (12), the power supply module (14) and the wireless mouse communication module (13), and - a wireless signal transmitter-receiver (2) with - a processing module (21), - a first connection (24), - a second shot (25), - a wireless communication module (23) and - a USB signal processing module (22) electrically connected to the first port (24), the second port (25) and the processing module (21), wherein the wireless communication module (23) is electrically connected to the processing module (21), while the first port (24) is used for electrical connection to an electronic device (4), wherein, in the event that the first mouse (1) is electrically connected to the second terminal (25) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) via a first wire (3), a first mouse control signal from the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is transmitted to the wireless signal transceiver (2) via the first wire (3) and converted by the USB signal processing module (22) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) into a control signal according to the USB communication protocol, which control signal is then made available to the electronic device (4), and wherein, in the event that the first mouse (1) is not electrically connected to the second terminal (25) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) via the first wire (3), the first mouse control signal of the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is transmitted via the wireless mouse communication module (13) to the wireless communication module (23) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) and is made available by the processing module (21) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) via the USB signal processing module (22) of the electronic device (4). [2] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 1, wherein the first mouse control signal of the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is a serial peripheral interface signal (Serial Peripheral Interface Bus, SPI) or an inter-integrated circuit signal (I2C). [3] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first wire (3) comprises one or more single wires, the single wire having a wire diameter less than or equal to AWG 28. [4] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 3, wherein the first wire (3) is a highly flexible wire. [5] Dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the signal of communication between the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) on the one hand and the cursor position detection module (12), the wireless mouse communication module (13) and the mouse connector (15) on the other hand is a serial peripheral interface signal or an inter-integrated circuit signal. [6] The dual-mode mouse device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first mouse (1) further comprises a mouse memory module (16) to which the control module (11) of the first mouse (1) is electrically connected, while the wireless signal transceiver (2) additionally comprises a memory module (26) to which the wireless communication module (23) of the wireless signal transceiver (2) is electrically connected, wherein a mouse configuration setting value and a mouse operation signal mapping table of the first mouse (1) are stored in the mouse memory module (16) of the first mouse (1) and the memory module (26) of the wireless signal transceiver (2), wherein the first mouse (1) sends an operation trigger signal to the wireless signal transceiver (2),whereupon the wireless signal transceiver (2) sends a mouse operation signal associated with the operation trigger signal to the electronic device (4) in dependence on the operation trigger signal and the mouse operation signal assignment table. [7] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 6, wherein, in the event that a second mouse (7) is in wireless communication connection or in wired electrical connection with the wireless signal transceiver (2), the second mouse (7) provides a configuration download request signal and a second device code to the wireless signal transceiver (2), whereupon the wireless signal transceiver (2) decides whether to supply the mouse configuration setting value to the second mouse (7) in dependence on the configuration download request signal and the second device code. [8] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, after the second mouse (7) has downloaded the mouse configuration setting value, the second mouse (7) provides a second mouse control signal to the electronic device (4) via the wireless signal transceiver (2) to control the movement of a cursor of the electronic device (4). [9] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first mouse (1) and the second mouse (7) each transmit the first mouse control signal and the second mouse control signal via the wireless signal transceiver (2) to control the movement of the cursor. [10] The dual-mode mouse device (M1) according to claim 6, wherein keyboard configuration setting data of a keyboard device (8) is stored in the memory module (26) of the wireless signal transceiver (2).

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