Smart Mouse Mechanical Switch Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless mouse devices spend a significant portion of their lifecycle in idle and sleep states, leading to substantial power consumption and reduced battery life, which affects their overall efficiency and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A smart mouse design that incorporates a mechanical switch to detect user input passively, allowing the optical unit to be turned off during periods of inactivity, thereby extending battery life by ensuring the device is only electrically enabled when in use, using a microcontroller unit to manage power states based on movement thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical unit remains continuously powered on to ensure the device is always ready for use, then the device responsiveness and user experience are improved, but the battery life is reduced due to continuous power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by transitioning the optical unit between active and sleep states based on detected user interaction. The mechanical switch detects mouse movements and triggers the optical unit to wake from sleep mode only when needed, rather than remaining continuously powered. This dynamic state transition resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to actual usage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic monitoring of movement signals to determine when to activate the optical unit. Instead of continuous operation, the system periodically checks for movement events and activates power only during these periods. This periodic action pattern allows the device to conserve energy during idle periods while remaining responsive when user interaction occurs.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the optical unit is turned off during idle periods to conserve battery life, then the battery life is extended, but the device responsiveness and readiness for use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining the optical unit in a sleep state with minimal power consumption, positioned just before full activation. The unit can quickly transition from this pre-positioned state to full operation when movement is detected, rather than starting from a completely powered-off state. This preliminary readiness state resolves the contradiction by balancing energy conservation with rapid response capability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the mechanical switch and power management system are added to control power states, then the battery life is extended through reduced power consumption, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power management function into a separate mechanical switch component that operates independently of the main microcontroller. This mechanical switch directly monitors movement signals and controls the power state of the optical unit without requiring complex software power management routines. By extracting this function to a dedicated hardware component, the system achieves power management capability with minimal added complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the device remains in active state to ensure immediate responsiveness to user input, then the user experience is improved, but the power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the power consumption parameter of the optical unit dynamically based on usage conditions. The system transitions between different power states (active and sleep modes) with distinct power consumption levels, adjusting the parameter in real-time according to detected movement events. This parameter change strategy resolves the contradiction by optimizing power consumption while maintaining user experience through rapid state transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for a smart mouse that may include transmitting, by the mechanical switch of the smart mouse, a signal to a microcontroller unit of the smart mouse in response to a movement of the smart mouse caused by a user, the movement causing the mechanical switch to be in a closed position, the signal indicating that the mechanical switch is in the closed position; receiving, by the microcontroller unit, the signal indicating that the mechanical switch is in the closed position; and in response to receiving the signal: causing, by a power switch of the smart mouse, at least one battery of the smart mouse to provide power to an optical unit of the smart mouse, the provided power causing the optical unit to be in an on state, the on state of the optical unit causing the smart mouse to be electrically enabled for use.