Mouse apparatus with projection function

Abstract

A mouse apparatus with a projection function, which includes a mouse circuit and a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module is electrically connected to the mouse circuit. The light-emitting module includes a light-emitting diode, a projection film, a light source lens module, a free-form surface reflector, and a projection lens module. The light source lens module is arranged between the light-emitting diode and the projection film. The projection lens module is arranged between the projection film and the free-form surface reflector. As a result, the mouse apparatus may have a projection function and may indicate a state and the like.

Description

MOUSE APPARATUS WITH PROJECTION FUNCTIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 113125677, filed July 9, 2024 (which issued as Taiwan Patent No. 1884825 on May 21, 2025), Taiwan Patent Application No. 113207379, filed July 9, 2024 (which issued as Taiwan Patent No. M664213 on December 11, 2024), Chinese Patent Application No. 202410943150. X, filed July 15, 2024, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202421664968. X, filed July 15, 2024 (which issued as Chinese Patent No. ZL 202421664968.X on May 27, 2025), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a mouse apparatus, and particularly relates to a mouse apparatus with a projection function.BACKGROUND

[0003] A mouse is a common electronic device for controlling a cursor on a screen to control operations of, for example, a computer, so the mouse is very important.

[0004] However, most mice at present have only a function of controlling a cursor on a screen and have no function of projecting to indicate a state (for example, projecting to indicate receipt of an e-mail or projecting to indicate the power level of the battery of the mouse), which is a pity.SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the above-described problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a mouse apparatus with a projection function.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, a mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention comprises: a mouse circuit; and a lightemitting module electrically connected to the mouse circuit, wherein the light-emitting modulecomprises: a light-emitting diode; a projection film; a light source lens module arranged between the light-emitting diode and the projection film; a free-form surface reflector; and a projection lens module arranged between the projection film and the free-form surface reflector.

[0007] Furthermore, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light-emitting module further comprises an accommodating housing; the light-emitting diode, the light source lens module, the projection film, the projection lens module, and the free-form surface reflector are arranged in the accommodating housing; and the accommodating housing is provided with a light-emitting port.

[0008] Furthermore, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light source lens module comprises a plurality of light source lenses; and the light source lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the light-emitting diode and the projection film.

[0009] Furthermore, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the projection lens module comprises a plurality of projection lenses; and the projection lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the projection film and the free-form surface reflector.

[0010] Furthermore, in a specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light-emitting diode is a white light-emitting diode or a color light-emitting diode.

[0011] Furthermore, in another specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light-emitting module further comprises a triangular prism; and the triangular prism is arranged between the projection lens module and the free-form surface reflector.

[0012] Furthermore, in another specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light-emitting module further comprises an accommodating housing; the light-emitting diode, the light source lens module, the projection film, the projection lens module, the triangular prism, and the freeform surface reflector are arranged in the accommodating housing; and the accommodating housing is provided with a light-emitting port.

[0013] Furthermore, in another specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light source lens module comprises a plurality of light source lenses; and the light source lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the light-emitting diode and the projection film.

[0014] Furthermore, in another specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the projection lens module comprises a plurality of projection lenses; and the projection lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the projection film and the triangular prism.

[0015] Furthermore, in another specific embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention as described above, the light-emitting diode is a white light-emitting diode or a color light-emitting diode.

[0016] An effect of the present invention is to allow a mouse to have a function of projecting to indicate a state.

[0017] For a further understanding of the techniques, methods, and effects of the present invention and to achieve the intended object of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and drawings. In addition, the object, characteristics, and features of the present invention may be understood more deeply and in more detail. However, the drawings are provided for reference and description only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an external view of a first embodiment of a mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is an external view of a first embodiment of a light-emitting module according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a section view of the first embodiment of the light-emitting module according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an external view of a second embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is an external view of a second embodiment of the light-emitting module according to the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a section view of the second embodiment of the light-emitting module according to the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a simple diagram of a side view of use of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the mouse apparatus with a projection function according to the present invention.

[0027] In the drawings:2: light-emitting module; 10: mouse apparatus with a projection function; 11: mouse shell; 12: front side wall; 13: orifice; 14: left mouse button; 15: right mouse button; 40: use plane; 42: placement area; 44: indication area; 50: computer; 231: image; 242: light-emitting diode; 244: light source lens module; 246: projection film; 248: projection lens module; 250: triangular prism; 252: free-form surface reflector; 254: accommodating housing; 302: microcontroller; 304: state indication signal; 306: mouse circuit; 308: light; 310: light-emitting diode driver; 312: battery; 314: voltage detector; 318: wireless signal transceiver circuit; 2441: light source lens; 2501: light incident surface; 2502: reflective surface; 2503: light emergent surface; 2541: lightemitting port; 2542: truncated cone-shaped space; 2543: right-angled triangular space; 2544: hypotenuse portion; 2545: light emergent right-angle side; 2546: light incident right-angle side; 2481: projection lens.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the present invention, many specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention; however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known details are not shown or described to avoid obscuring the features of the present invention. The technical contents and the detailed description of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0029] Reference is made to FIG. 8, which is a block diagram of an embodiment of a mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention. The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention includes a mousecircuit 306 and a light-emitting module 2. The light-emitting module 2 is electrically connected to the mouse circuit 306.

[0030] Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is an external view of a first embodiment of the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention. Reference is also made to FIG. 2, which is an external view of a first embodiment of the light-emitting module 2 according to the present invention, and reference is also made to FIG. 3, which is a section view of the first embodiment of the light-emitting module 2 according to the present invention.

[0031] The light-emitting module 2 includes a light-emitting diode 242, a light source lens module 244, a projection film 246, a projection lens module 248, a free-form surface reflector 252, and an accommodating housing 254. The light source lens module 244 is arranged between the light-emitting diode 242 and the projection film 246, the projection lens module 248 is arranged between the projection film 246 and the free-form surface reflector 252, and the lightemitting diode 242, the light source lens module 244, the projection film 246, the projection lens module 248, and the free-form surface reflector 252 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254. The accommodating housing 254 is provided with a light-emitting port 2541.

[0032] The light source lens module 244 includes a plurality of light source lenses 2441, and the light source lenses 2441 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254 and between the light-emitting diode 242 and the projection film 246. The projection lens module 248 includes a plurality of projection lenses 2481, and the projection lenses 2481 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254 and between the projection film 246 and the free-form surface reflector 252. The light-emitting diode 242 is a white light-emitting diode or a color lightemitting diode.

[0033] Furthermore, light 308 emitted by the light-emitting diode 242 passes sequentially through the light source lens module 244, the projection film 246, and the projection lens module 248 toward the free-form surface reflector 252, and then is reflected at the free-form surface reflector 252 and adjusts and corrects a deformed image by the free-form surface reflector 252. As a result, an image 231 on the projection film 246 is imaged by means of projecting and mapping. The projection film 246 is a film, and the image 231 is a printed layer printed on an inner or outer surface of the film.

[0034] Furthermore, a truncated cone-shaped space 2542 is provided in the accommodating housing 254 to accommodate the light-emitting diode 242, the light source lens module 244,the projection film 246, and the projection lens module 248, a right-angled triangular space 2543 communicating with the truncated cone-shaped space 2542 is further provided in the accommodating housing 254 to provide the free-form surface reflector 252 at a hypotenuse portion 2544 of the right-angled triangular space 2543, and the light-emitting port 2541 is provided at a light emergent right-angle side 2545 of the right-angled triangular space 2543. The light 308 emitted by the light-emitting diode 242, after leaving the projection lens module 248, passes through a light incident right-angle side 2546 of the right-angled triangular space 2543 and is then reflected by the free-form surface reflector 252 to pass through the lightemitting port 2541. The image 231 on the projection film 246 is reflected from the free-form surface reflector 252 by the light 308 emitted by the light-emitting diode 242 to pass through the light-emitting port 2541 to form an image by means of projection mapping.

[0035] Furthermore, the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function further includes a mouse shell 11 in which the mouse circuit 306 and the light-emitting module 2 are arranged.

[0036] Reference is made to FIG. 4, which is an external view of a second embodiment of the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention. Reference is also made to FIG. 5, which is an external view of a second embodiment of the light-emitting module 2 according to the present invention, and reference is also made to FIG. 6, which is a section view of the second embodiment of the light-emitting module 2 according to the present invention. Components shown in the second embodiment of the present invention are the same as those shown in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0037] The light-emitting module 2 further includes a triangular prism 250, and the triangular prism 250 is arranged between the projection lens module 248 and the free-form surface reflector 252. The light-emitting module 2 further includes an accommodating housing 254. The light-emitting diode 242, the light source lens module 244, the projection film 246, the projection lens module 248, the triangular prism 250, and the free-form surface reflector 252 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254. The accommodating housing 254 is provided with a light-emitting port 2541. The light source lens module 244 includes a plurality of light source lenses 2441, and the light source lenses 2441 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254 and between the light-emitting diode 242 and the projection film 246. The projection lens module 248 includes a plurality of projection lenses 2481, and the projectionlenses 2481 are arranged in the accommodating housing 254 and between the projection film 246 and the triangular prism 250. The light-emitting diode 242 is a white light-emitting diode or a color light-emitting diode.

[0038] Furthermore, light 308 emitted by the light-emitting diode 242 passes sequentially through the light source lens module 244, the projection film 246, and the projection lens module 248 to enter the triangular prism 250, and is then reflected at the triangular prism 250 toward the free-form surface reflector 252, and is then reflected at the free-form surface reflector 252 and adjusts and corrects a distorted image by the free-form surface reflector 252. As a result, an image 231 on the projection film 246 is imaged by means of projection mapping.

[0039] Furthermore, a truncated cone-shaped space 2542 is provided in the accommodating housing 254 to accommodate the light-emitting diode 242, the light source lens module 244, the projection film 246, and the projection lens module 248, and a right-angled triangular space 2543 is provided in the accommodating housing 254 to provide the free-form surface reflector 252 at a hypotenuse portion 2544 of the right-angled triangular space 2543. The triangular prism 250 is sandwiched between the truncated cone-shaped space 2542 and the right-angled triangular space 2543, and the light-emitting port 2541 is provided at a light emergent rightangle side 2545 of the right-angled triangular space 2543. The light 308 emitted by the lightemitting diode 242, after leaving the projection lens module 248, passes through a light incident surface 2501 of the triangular prism 250 to reach a reflective surface 2502 of the triangular prism 250, then is reflected from the reflective surface 2502 to pass through a light emergent surface 2503 of the triangular prism 250 and a light incident right-angle side 2546 of the right- angled triangular space 2543 to reach the free-form surface reflector 252, and is then reflected by the free-form surface reflector 252 to pass through the light-emitting port 2541.

[0040] Furthermore, reference is made to FIG. 7, which is a simple diagram of a side view of use of the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention. The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention is placed on a placement area 42 of a use plane 40 such as a desk or a mouse pad. The periphery of the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function is vertically projected on the use plane 40 to define the placement area 42. An indication area 44 of the use plane 40 is defined to be adjacent to the placement area 42, and the indication area 44 is an area of the use plane 40 excluding the placement area 42, for example, an area in front of (not shown in FIG. 7), obliquely in frontof (not shown in FIG. 7), or on the side of (not shown in FIG. 7) the placement area 42 that is not hidden by an arm (not shown in FIG. 7) or a palm (not shown in FIG. 7) of a user (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0041] Furthermore, the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function further includes a microcontroller 302 electrically connected to the light-emitting module 2 and the mouse circuit 306. The microcontroller 302 controls the light-emitting module 2 to emit the light 308 toward the indication area 44 in response to a state indication signal 304. That is, the light-emitting module 2 does not emit the light 308 toward the placement area 42 and does not emit the light 308 parallel to the use plane 40, but emits the light 308 toward, for example, the area in front of, obliquely in front of, or on the side of the placement area. As a result, the user can perceive the light 308 that is illuminated on the indication area 44 and used for responding to the state indication signal 304.

[0042] Reference is made again to FIG. 8. The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function further includes a universal serial bus interface 316 electrically connected to the microcontroller 302. The light-emitting module 2 further includes a light-emitting diode driver 310 electrically connected to the microcontroller 302. The microcontroller 302 controls the light-emitting diode driver 310 in response to the state indication signal 304 to drive (e.g., drive using a pulse width modulation signal) the light-emitting diode 242 to emit the light 308.

[0043] Furthermore, in a specific embodiment, a computer 50 generates the state indication signal 304 upon receiving an e-mail and transmits the state indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302 in a wired manner via the universal serial bus interface 316, and the image 231 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) is an envelope pattern. As a result, the user can perceive the envelope pattern illuminated on the indication area 44 (shown in FIG. 7), thereby knowing that the computer 50 has received the e-mail. In another specific embodiment, the state indication signal 304, e.g., a mouse start-up signal, is pre-stored in the microcontroller 302, and the image 231 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) is a mouse brand pattern. As a result, the user can see the mouse brand pattern illuminated on the indication area 44 (shown in FIG. 7) when the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function is started up.

[0044] Furthermore, reference is made to FIG. 9, which is a block diagram of another embodiment of the mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention. Components shown in FIG. 9 are the same as those shown in FIG. 8, and thedescription thereof will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity. The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function further includes a battery 312, a voltage detector 314, and a wireless signal transceiver circuit 318. The voltage detector 314 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 302 and the battery 312, and the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 302. In a specific embodiment, a computer 50 generates the state indication signal 304 upon receiving an e-mail and transmits the state indication signal 304 to the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 in a wireless manner, then the wireless signal transceiver circuit 318 transmits the state indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302, and the image 231 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) is an envelope pattern. As a result, the user can perceive the envelope pattern illuminated on the indication area 44 (shown in FIG. 7), thereby knowing that the computer 50 has received the e-mail. In another specific embodiment, the voltage detector 314 detects the voltage of the battery 312, and generates the state indication signal 304 and transmits the state indication signal 304 to the microcontroller 302 when the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than a predetermined voltage, and the image 231 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) is a battery pattern. As a result, the user can perceive the battery pattern illuminated on the indication area 44 (shown in FIG. 7), thereby knowing that the voltage of the battery 312 is lower than the predetermined voltage.

[0045] Furthermore, reference is made again to FIGS. 1 and 4. The shell 11 includes a front side wall 12, and an orifice 13 is provided from the front side wall 12 to communicate with the light-emitting port 2541. The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function further includes a left mouse button 14 and a right mouse button 15 provided on the top of the shell 11 and formed above the front side wall 12.

[0046] The mouse apparatus 10 with a projection function according to the present invention further includes a number of known components of the mouse not shown in the drawings, such as a charging circuit (if the mouse includes a charging battery), a power converter (e.g., converting an input voltage or the voltage of the battery into 1.9 volts, 3.3 volts, or 4.5 volts for supply to various electronic circuits within the mouse), a memory (e.g., a flash memory), a light sensor, an encoder, a middle button, a resolution adjustment button, a side button, various communication interfaces (e.g., a serial peripheral interface, an integrated circuit bus), etc., for mouse operations, and the structures, operations, and functions of these known components are not described in detail in the present invention.

[0047] An effect of the present invention is to allow a mouse to have a function of projecting to indicate a state.

[0048] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various alterations and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and other alterations and modifications will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such alterations and modifications are included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A mouse apparatus with a projection function, characterized by comprising: a mouse circuit; and a light-emitting module electrically connected to the mouse circuit, wherein the light-emitting module comprises: a light-emitting diode; a projection film; a light source lens module arranged between the light-emitting diode and the projection film; a free-form surface reflector; and a projection lens module arranged between the projection film and the free-form surface reflector.

2. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting module further comprises an accommodating housing; the light-emitting diode, the light source lens module, the projection film, the projection lens module, and the free-form surface reflector are arranged in the accommodating housing; and the accommodating housing is provided with a light-emitting port.

3. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 2, wherein the light source lens module comprises a plurality of light source lenses; and the light source lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the light-emitting diode and the projection film.

4. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 3, wherein the projection lens module comprises a plurality of projection lenses; and the projection lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the projection film and the freeform surface reflector.

5. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 4, wherein the light-emitting diode is a white light-emitting diode or a color light-emitting diode.

6. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting module further comprises a triangular prism; and the triangular prism is arranged between the projection lens module and the free-form surface reflector.

7. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 6, wherein the light-emitting module further comprises an accommodating housing; the light-emitting diode, the light source lens module, the projection film, the projection lens module, the triangular prism, and the free-form surface reflector are arranged in the accommodating housing; and the accommodating housing is provided with a light-emitting port.

8. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 7, wherein the light source lens module comprises a plurality of light source lenses; and the light source lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the light-emitting diode and the projection film.

9. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 8, wherein the projection lens module comprises a plurality of projection lenses; and the projection lenses are each arranged in the accommodating housing and between the projection film and the triangular prism.

10. The mouse apparatus with a projection function according to claim 9, wherein the light-emitting diode is a white light-emitting diode or a color light-emitting diode.

11. A mouse apparatus with a projection function, comprising: a mouse housing; a sensor circuit configured to detect motion of the mouse housing;a microcontroller operably connected to the sensor circuit and configured to receive a state indication signal; and a projection subsystem operably connected to the microcontroller, the projection subsystem comprising: a light source; an optical assembly configured to project a visual indication onto a surface external to the mouse housing in response to the state indication signal, wherein the visual indication corresponds to a status of an external device or a condition of the mouse apparatus.

12. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the state indication signal includes at least one of: a low battery warning, a wireless connection status, an incoming message notification, or a device pairing status.

13. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the projection subsystem further comprises a removable or replaceable projection film for displaying different projected images.

14. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to control brightness or color of the projected visual indication in response to a user input or detected ambient light.

15. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the projection subsystem projects an image in a direction away from the user's palm and toward a region adjacent to the mouse.

16. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the optical assembly further comprises a reflective element configured for geometric correction of the projected image.

17. The mouse apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light source is configured to emit multiple colors and the color of the projected image is selected based on the type of state indication signal received.

18. A computer input device with an integrated projection indicator, comprising: a user-operable housing; a control circuit disposed within the housing; a wireless communication interface configured to receive state information from a host computer; and a projection module configured to receive a signal from the control circuit and project an icon, pattern, or symbol indicative of the state information on a support surface external to the housing, wherein the projection module comprises a light source, at least one lens, and a patternforming element.

19. The computer input device of claim 18, wherein the projection module is selectively enabled or disabled based on user settings.

20. The computer input device of claim 18, wherein the pattern-forming element includes a transparent or translucent film bearing a graphic, and the film is interchangeable.

21. The computer input device of claim 18, wherein different icons or patterns are projected for different types of state information.

22. The computer input device of claim 18, further comprising a sensor for detecting ambient brightness, wherein the projection module automatically adjusts the intensity of the projected image.

23. The computer input device of claim 18, wherein the host computer transmits a state information signal via Bluetooth or a wireless USB protocol.

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