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US 6,285,354 B1Granted
Combination mouse and telephone handset
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorPaul A. Revis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combined computer mouse and telephone device is provided. The device includes a common housing which can open to provide a telephone handset, and close to provide a computer mouse. The device is toggled between a mouse and telephone mode of operation via a hinge-switch which switches upon opening and closing of the housing. The telephone keypad is located on an interior of the housing during operation of the mouse, thereby eliminating the possibility of accidentally depressing the keypad when using the mouse.
Claims51
A combined computer mouse and telephone device comprising:
- a computer mouse device;
- a telephone device;
- and
- a common housing for said mouse device and telephone device, said common housing being movable between an open condition and a closed condition and comprising a top-side housing portion and a bottom-side housing portion joined together by a hinge device which permits said top-side housing portion and bottom side housing portion to be in face-to-face contact when said common housing is in said closed condition and to permit said top-side housing to rotate about said hinge device relative to said bottom-side housing when said common housing is moved to said open condition.
1 more element
A processor-based system comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a combined computer mouse and telephone device providing input signals to said at least one processor and comprising:
- a computer mouse device;
- a telephone device;
- and
- a common housing for said mouse device and telephone device said common housing being movable between an open condition and a closed condition and comprising a top-side housing portion and a bottom-side housing portion joined together by a hinge device which permits said top-side housing portion and bottom-side housing portion to be in face-to-face contact when said common housing is in said closed condition and to permit said top-side housing to rotate about said hinge device relative to said bottom-side housing when said common housing is moved to said open condition.
4 more elements
A computer mouse device comprising:
- a housing comprising a top-side housing portion and a bottom-side housing portion joined together by a hinge, the housing being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration by movement of the housing portions with respect to one another about the hinge;
- a track ball and at least one pointer select button, the track ball and the pointer select button being carried by the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing when the housing is in its closed condition;
- and
- a speaker and a microphone carried by the housing at a location wherein they are concealed in an interior of the housing when the housing is in its closed configuration, but are accessible to a user when the housing is in its open configuration.
1 more element
A combined computer mouse and telephone handset comprising:
- a housing comprising first and second housing portions joined together by a hinge, the housing being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration by movement of the housing portions with respect to one another about the hinge;
- a mouse device comprising a track ball and at least one pointer select button, the track ball and the pointer select button being carried by the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing when the housing is in its closed condition;
- and
- a telephone handset comprising a speaker carried by the first housing portion at a location spaced from the hinge and a microphone carried by the second housing portion at a location spaced from the hinge, the speaker and the microphone being concealed in an interior of the housing when the housing is in its closed configuration, but being accessible to a user when the housing is in its open configuration;
- and
- a cord for connecting at least the mouse device to a computer, the cord being attached to the second housing portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.