Logitech, Inc.

Rene Sommer

Aldo Bussien

Nicolas Sasselli

Philippe Junod

Berni Joss

The present invention provides a wireless radio frequency ('RF') communications interface between peripherals and the host personal computer or workstation. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless electronic mouse which uses an RF transmitter to transmit information unidirectionally to a receiver which is coupled to a host computer. This arrangement eliminates the need for a cable connection between the mouse and the receiver, while at the same time permitting continuous communication therebetween. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus to allow the receiver to differentiate between multiple RF wireless mice operating within the same transmission zone by a combination of providing a unique identification code to each transmitting mouse and allowing the user to choose from a plurality of transmission channels. The receiver then automatically switches to the channel selected by the user. The present invention can further receive transmissions from either one or two peripheral devices. In one device mode, the receiver filters out stray frequencies from other RF peripherals. In two device mode, the receiver has the ability to receive information from two RF peripherals, while filtering out other stray RF peripherals operating in the same transmission zone. This allows a user to use the same receiver for one peripheral, such as a mouse, for detailed work and another peripheral for other types of special applications, such as a pointing device for software presentations. The present invention further provides for a power consumption minimization method in the wireless peripheral.

Wireless mouse

Methods and devices are disclosed for selectively varying the load to a photodetector such as a phototransistor which forms part of a photosource/photodetector pair and for selectively using to advantage or compensating for the parasitic capacitance of the photodetector to permit reductions in power, conversion of fixed signal thresholds to software controlled digital hysteresis, automatic adjustment and compensation for unmatched photosources and associated photodetectors, and adjustment of fixed voltage thresholds.

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Prilly, Switzerland

Rene Sommer