Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is related generally to the field of desktop computing and specifically to the apparatus and methods for simulating computer mouse movement when the user is not working on the computer.

Background of the Invention

[0002] The computer mouse has become the established means of interacting with the desktop computer. The mouse is moved along the table, and electronics within the mouse sense the amount of movement in both the vertical and horizontal directions. This movement on the table is then interpreted by the computer software as movement of a pointer across the computer screen.

[0003] Lack of mouse movement is interpreted by the computer software as inactivity by the computer user, which may result in other actions. A common action that may result from a lack of mouse movement is the computer going to sleep, or the initiation of a screen saver, both of which may be accompanied by the locking of the screen and the need for input of the user password.

[0004] While the actions that result from mouse inactivity may be set by the user, there are some users who are not sufficiently skilled in computer system administration and thus always operate in the default mode. In other cases, the user may be working with an employer issued computer, where many such settings cannot be changed by the user.

[0005] Having the computer screen saver come on frequently and lock the user out with a password may be very inconvenient when watching videos or other entertainment on the computer screen that does not involve user mouse input. A device that simulates mouse motion is therefore of considerable benefit in this situation. [0006] An alternative scenario is one where users working on a company issued computer are monitored via Microsoft Lync, or other software that tracks mouse activity. When running with multiple users logged in, Microsoft Lync shows icons of the user that change color from green, when mouse activity is detected, to yellow when the mouse in inactive. Again, depending on the enterprise settings, the duration of mouse inactivity may not be adjustable by the user. Indeed, the default setting in many cases is 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of no activity from the mouse, the users display setting is changed to“Yellow - Inactive”.

[0007] Having your activity state turn“Yellow - Inactive” may give other employees, or the employee supervisor, concern that the employee is not working even though that may not be case. Activities such as reading specifications, procedures, manuals or other work related documents that may be in print form do not require movement of the mouse.

[0008] This is particularly of concern when working from home, as many people do these days. Reading documents, or stepping out to go to the bathroom or answering the door may very well take more than a few minutes, and may lead to the user’s status changing to“Yellow - Inactive”. When working from home, these commonly occurring events may become very stressful for the employee, even though they would not be noticed in a normal at-the-office environment.

[0009] Microsoft Lync is but only one such mouse activity monitoring applications that may be installed on the computer of an individual working from home. There are likely many other applications with which an employer may monitor an employees work activity. But because of simplicity, mouse movement is likely the most common means of keeping track of computer usage and inactivity.

[0010] In view of the issues discussed above, a solution for avoiding multiple and repeated periods of (i) screen saver initiation when watching a movie, and (ii) Microsoft Lync“Yellow - Inactive” status initiation, a computer mouse movement simulator is disclosed.

Summary of the Invention

[0011] The invention presented herein is a mouse movement simulator comprising of a housing that holds a platform which moves, and a means of constraining the computer mouse so that the platform moves underneath the mouse. Having a stationary mouse with a platform moving beneath the mouse is adequate for simulating mouse movement and thus avoiding the conditions described above.

[0012] The movement that can be simulated by the platform can be translational in single or multiple directions, rotational, or a combination of both translation and rotation.

[0013] This Summary is provided to introduce a number of concepts in a simplified form that are described below in the Detailed Description section. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the subject matter claimed, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the subject matter claimed. A more extensive presentation of the features, details and advantages of the present invention as defined in the claims is provided in the following written description of the various embodiments of the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] FIGURE 1 is a drawings of mouse movement simulator with a computer mouse.

[0015] FIGURE 2 is a drawings showing a base which contains a motor, a platform that rotates, and a receptacle for the mouse that clips onto the base.

[0016] FIGURES 3 A and 3B are drawings showing the components of the mouse movement simulator, including the base, the motor, the platform and the mouse receptacle.

[0017] FIGURE 4 is a top view of the mouse movement simulator that shows how the mouse receptacle prevents the mouse from moving with the platform due to its rectangular shape

[0018] FIGURE 5 is a drawing showing an alternative embodiment of the mouse movement simulator in which the rotating platform is not horizontal, but mounted on an angle, so that the mouse slides back and forth due to gravity as the platform rotates.

[0019] FIGURES 6A, 6B and 6C are drawings showing how the mouse would slide back and forth and side to side as the platform rotates. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0020] A computer mouse movement simulator is disclosed herein in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

[0021] The computer mouse movement simulator may have a platform which moves beneath a stationary mouse via translation in any direction, via rotation either clockwise or counter-clockwise, or via a combination of both translation and rotation.

[0022] The movement of the platform may be activated by way of a single motor that causes the platform to rotate, or by way of several motors and pulleys or gears that cause the platform to translate in any directions, or by a combination of both translation and rotation.

[0023] The mouse movement simulator consists of a lower section which contains the motors and associated control circuitry, and an upper section that contains a receptacle for the computer mouse which limits its movement. The platform on which the mouse sits is connected to the motor or motors that reside in the lower section.

[0024] The motor(s) and associated circuitry can be powered via wall outlet, batteries or power cable attached to a computer USB port.

[0025] The platform may be round if mouse movement is simulated via rotation of the platform, square or rectangular if mouse movement is simulated via translation, or of different shape depending on what is convenient and appropriate for the movement of the platform.

[0026] The mouse may be held in place by way of entrapment in a receptacle that limits its movement, or by way of a physical connection to a stationary component of the lower or upper section, or by a separate, external device.

[0027] The mouse movement simulator may also function by an alternative means in which the mouse is induced to move within the confines of the device by other actions, such as tilting of the platform, inducing the mouse to slide, by direct pushing on the mouse by other means, or by a combination of any of the above actions.

[0028] Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures. [0029] According to a first embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a computer mouse movement simulator 10 provides a platform 12 atop which a computer mouse 11 is placed. As is typical of a computer mouse, it is fitted with a thumbwheel 18 and one or more buttons. The upper section 13 has a generally rectangular cut-out 19, sized to be slightly larger than a typical computer mouse.

[0030] Referring to FIGURE 2, the first embodiment of the computer mouse movement simulator 10 provides a lower section 14 that houses a round platform 12, that is made to rotate by way of a motor that sits in the lower section 14. The upper section 13 holds the mouse and limits its movement via the generally rectangular shape of the receptacle 19. The upper and lower sections connect together via appropriate means, such as clips 23 or screws.

[0031] Referring to FIGURES 3A and 3B, in the first embodiment of the invention, motor 15 has a shaft 16 which fits into central hole 17 of platform 12. Rotation of the motor shaft 16 induces rotational motion in the platform 12. The motor 15 is mounted onto posts 23 in the lower section 14 via appropriate fixtures such as screws. In the first embodiment of the invention, the motor of the computer mouse movement simulator is powered by wall current via an electrical cable that passes through the wall of the base via an appropriate strain relief 24, per consumer safety specifications. Assembly of the computer mouse movement simulator is done by connecting the motor 15 to the base 14, pressing the platform 12 onto the shaft 16 of the motor 15, and then attaching the upper section 13 to the lower section 14 via the clips 23 of the upper section that lock below appropriately positioned ridges 25 in the lower section.

[0032] Referring to FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the generally rectangular shape of the receptacle 19 in in the upper section 13, is sized to be appropriate for the computer mouse 11 which is intended to be used with the computer mouse movement simulator, so that it prevents the mouse from rotating with the platform 12. In order to properly constrain the mouse and prevent it from rotating, the length of the short axis of the rectangular receptacle 19 must be less than the length of the long axis of the computer mouse. As the platform rotates clockwise 22, the edges of the mouse impinge on the edges of the receptacle 19 at points 20 and 21, preventing further rotation of the mouse. Once the mouse abuts against the sides of the receptacle, it stops moving. The platform continues to move (rotate in the example of this embodiment), the mouse senses the relative motion beneath it, and thus continues to send a motion signal to the computer. The movement of the rotating platform 12 beneath the stationary mouse 11 therefore simulates mouse movement, even though the mouse is not being actively moved by the computer user.

[0033] Some embodiments may utilize a platform that translates in multiple directions, and may thus utilize several motors to effect the desired motion.

Regardless of the direction of motion, the restraint of the mouse via the receptacle 19 induces the relative motion between the platform 12 and the mouse 11, and produces the mouse motion signal that is sent to the computer.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment of the mouse movement simulator shown in FIGURE 5, the platform 12 is not horizontal, but instead is mounted to the motor at an angle 30. As the platform rotates, its angle relative to the mouse changes and the mouse is induced to slide back and forth over the tilting platform 12.

[0035] Referring to FIGURES 6 A-C, with the platform being mounted to the motor shaft at an angle, its counterclockwise rotation leads to a tilting of the mouse front to back and side to side. As shown in FIG 6A, with the platform tilted backwards 35, the mouse will slide backwards 40 along the platform until it hits the rear inside edge of the receptacle (receptacle not shown for clarity). As the platform continues to rotate clockwise (FIG 6B), it will tilt to the right 36, and the mouse will slide sideways 41. As the platform continues to rotate clockwise (FIG 6C), it will tilt forward 37, and the mouse will slide forward 42. With an angularly mounted platform that rotates through positions 35, 36, 37 and similar, the mouse movement simulator will induce a more complex sliding pattern of the mouse. As the platform rotates underneath the mouse, and the mouse will move within the boundaries of the receptacle in the upper section.

[0036] The lower and upper sections of the mouse movement simulator may be fabricated preferably from injection molded plastic, metal or similar convenient material that has the desirable physical, structural and visual properties.

[0037] The platform of the mouse movement simulator may be fabricated preferably from injection molded plastic, metal or similar convenient material that has the desirable physical, structural and visual properties. [0038] Motion of the platform may be effected via a motor that rotates at the appropriate speed, or by other motors that translate the platform in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0039] The motors may be powered by AC power from the wall and be appropriately specified for US (110V, 60Hz), European (220V, 50Hz) or other appropriate power configurations depending on which region of the world they are intended to operate in.

[0040] The motors may be powered by DC power from batteries inside the mouse motion simulator base, or from DC power supplied via an external cord, such as that used for USB connections, and thus powered from the computer itself.

[0041] The order and assembly of the components may be altered without changing the nature of the subject matter. For example, the motor can be inverted, located in the upper section and drive the platform from the top via an appropriate gear system, rather than from the bottom.

[0042] The foregoing description of the subject matter has been provided for illustration and description purposes only. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the only the form disclosed above. Other modifications and variations may be possible in view of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments were selected and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application, and to enable others skilled in the art to make use of the invention in the various embodiments and modifications as may be suitable for their use. The appended claims are intended to include other alternative embodiments that may be suitable for the intended use, except as limited by the prior art.