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US 8,711,095 B2Granted
Programmable computer mouse
OwnerMin-Liang Tan, Chern Ann Nginventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System and method are disclosed for programming a user input device such as a computer mouse or computer keyboard. The user input device features memory for storing programming information associated with various user inputs, such as buttons or keys. The user may define macros, shortcuts, programs and other functions associated with any or all of user profiles so that the user may switch between various programmed data sets with ease.
Claims22
A programmable user input device comprising:
- a microcontroller carried by the programmable user input device;
- a plurality of control inputs;
- and
- a nonvolatile memory for storing user-defined programming instructions, said user-defined programming instructions executable by the microcontroller and adapted to program at least one of the plurality of control inputs to correspond to at least one user-defined depression, the at least one user-defined depression performed on at least one other control input of the plurality of control inputs;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to program individually each of the plurality of control inputs in response to user depression of at least one of the plurality of control inputs;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to be switchable from a standard mode to a programmable mode in response to actuation of a first predefined set of the plurality of control inputs;
- wherein the programming of each of the plurality of control inputs is performed when the microcontroller is in the programmable mode;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured for creating and storing a plurality of user-defined profiles on the nonvolatile memory;
- wherein each user-defined profile within the plurality of user-defined profiles corresponds to an assignment of at least one of the plurality of control inputs to a particular one of the plurality of control inputs;
- and
- wherein a user-defined profile is switchable to a different user-defined profile in response to actuation of a second predefined set of the plurality of control inputs.
8 more elements
A method for programming a user input device comprising:
- selecting a first user profile from a plurality of user profiles for said user input device;
- actuating a first predefined set of a plurality of control inputs of the user input device to switch a microcontroller of the user input device from a standard mode to a programmable mode;
- assigning user-defined programming instructions, said user-defined programming instructions adapted to program at least one of the plurality of control inputs to correspond to at least one user-defined depression, wherein the at least one user-defined depression is performed on at least one other control input of the plurality of control inputs, wherein each of the plurality of control inputs being individually programmed in response to user depression of at least one of the plurality of control inputs;
- and
- storing said user-defined programming instructions in a nonvolatile memory;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured for creating and storing the plurality of user-defined profiles on the nonvolatile memory;
- and
- wherein the first user profile is switchable to a second user profile in response to actuation of a second predefined set of the plurality of control inputs.
5 more elements
A nonvolatile memory including a program of instructions, wherein the program of instructions upon being executed by a microcontroller on a computer input device causes the computer input device to:
- select, via a user interface of the computer input device, of a first user profile from a plurality of user profiles stored on the nonvolatile memory of the computer input device;
- generate user-defined programming instructions, the said user-defined programming instructions adapted to program at least one of a plurality of control inputs to correspond to at least one user-defined depression, wherein the at least one user-defined depression is performed on at least one other control input of the plurality of control inputs, wherein each of the plurality of control inputs being individually programmable in response to user depression of at least one of the plurality of control inputs;
- and
- communicate the user-defined programming instructions via a data communication module to the nonvolatile memory of the computer input device for storage therein;
- facilitate switching the microcontroller from a standard mode to a programmable mode in response to actuation of a first predefined set of the plurality, of control inputs, wherein the programming of each of the plurality of control inputs is performed when the microcontroller is in the programmable mode;
- and
- facilitate switching from the first user profile to a second user profile in response to actuation of a second predefined set of the plurality of control inputs.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.