WO2002001491A1

WO2002001491A1 - Computer controller

Info

Publication number: WO2002001491A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/002499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lok Cheung Jensen Fong
Original assignee: Dynavision Technology Limited; Whalley, Kevin
Priority date: 2000-06-28
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2002-01-03
Also published as: AU5556700A

Abstract

A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller (such as a 'mouse') is provided with a loudspeaker. The controller can be used in conventional fashion to operate a PC. The loudspeaker can be driven by the PC, so that the PC does not require loudspeakers, and/or the loudspeaker can be driven by audio equipment provided in or for the controller itself. The controller may therefore include a built-in radio, MP3 player or the like.

Description

COMPUTER CONTROLLER

The invention relates to computer controllers.

The invention relates more particularly to a esk top" manually operable computer controller. Such controllers include a mouse, a track ball or a joy-stick for example that typically enable the user to move an arrow (or pointer or cursor) across a display screen and to initiate activities of the computer accordingly. The computer is normally a personal computer (PC) but may be a game machine, for example.

It is usual and desirable that the computer has some audio output for responding to actions of the mouse or for general use to deliver sound messages or background music to a computer user. Typically a PC, for example, has one or more standard loudspeakers for this purpose and often is provided with a sound reproduction card, or similar, to enable compact discs to be played when using the computer. This is not always the case, or in any event may be fairly restricted in nature.

It is an object of the invention to overcome this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller for controlling activities of the computer by pointing and clicking, the controller incorporating audio equipment for providing audio signals for a user of the controller.

Audio signals may be provided by the computer to drive the audio reproduction equipment in the controller. The audio signals may also be provided by the controller to drive audio reproduction equipment in the computer.

The audio signals are pref rably communicated by hardwire connecting the controller to the computer.

One or more loudspeakers may be connected to. the controller.

The audio equipment in the controller may comprise a radio receiver_/ or an MP3 player.

The audio equipment in the controller may comprise digital signal processor or microcontroller for sound processing, compression _/decompressing and effec generation.

A desk top manually operable stand alone controller for a personal computer according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which .^■- Figure 1 is a side view of a mouse controller; and

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit arrangement for the controller.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 a mouse controller 10 is of generally conventional configuration having a tracking engine 11 and ^clicking" buttons (only one switch is shown in. the Figure) and a thumb wheel 12. An external housing of the controller has an integrally formed upstanding cup-shaped aperture in which a loudspeaker 13 is supported. The mouse controller is "hard-wired" to a personal computer (PC) by a multiple core cable 14. In normal use, the mouse is used to ^wpoint and click" by moving an arrow, or pointer, over a screen of. a PC in a manner well-known.

In Figure 2, the PC 15 is connected by the cable 14 to an audio equipment circuit 17. In use, a processor 18 will process signals from the tracking engine 11, buttons and thumb wheels 12 before sending signals to the computer IS. Audio signals are generated by the computer and processed by audio equipment 17 to drive a loudspeaker 13 for providing audio signals for a user of the controller.

In its simplest, form the audio equipment 17 may simply comprise a suitable connection to pass on electrical audio signal generated in the computer 15 for the loudspeaker 13. In contrast, the audio equipment 17 may be a radio or an MP3 player that generates suitable audio signals for the loudspeaker 13 or for loudspeakers attached to the computer 15 or elsewhere. As such, th radio or player may be controlled directl b the controller or via the computer 15, as preferred. The audio equipment 17 may be a digital signal processor or microcontroller which creates sound effects, perform audio compression or decompression and soun reproduction.

Embodiments of the invention can therefore serve to provide a means for audio to be generated (by the built- in audio equipment 17) and/or playback audio via the built-in loudspeaker 13. Embodiments of the invention can provide a versatile computer . controller which provides entertainment and audio feedback. Embodiments of the invention may also save desktop space,, by combing a loudspeaker 13, computer controller, audio equipment 17 into one single ("mouse") device. By eliminating loudspeakers 13 on the computer 15, costs are reduced as the built-in loudspeaker 13 is normally cheaper. As control signals for the audio equipment 17 may come from the computer 15, embodiments o the inventio can provide audio interaction under computer control and hence provide more interaction than a traditional computer controller.

Normally, the mouse controller 10 is hard-wired (i.e. connected by a plug-in cable to the computer). It is however possible to use. different . communication channels between the mouse controller 10 and the computer 15 including radio, ultrasonic or infra-red transmissions.

Claims

1. A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller for controlling activities of the computer by pointing and clicking, the controller incorporating audio equipment for providing audio signals for a user of the controller.

2. A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller according to claim 1, in which audio signals are provided by the computer to drive the audio reproduction equipment in the controller.

3. A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller according to claim 1, in which the audio signals are provided, by the controller to . drive audio reproduction equipment in the computer.

4. A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller according to claim 1, in which the audio signals are communicated by hard-wire connecting the controller to the computer.

5. A desk top manually operable stand alone compute controller according to claim 1, including one or more loudspeakers connected to the controller.

6 . A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controller according to claim 1, in which audio equipment- in the controller comprises a radio receiver.

7. A desk top manually operable stand alone computer controlle according to claim 1, in which the audio equipment in the controller comprises an MP3 player..

^■ 8 A desk top manuall operable stand alone computer controller according to claim 1, in which the audio equipment in the controller comprises a digital signal processor or . microcontroller for sound processing, compression , decompressing and effect generation.