The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2000
Timothy A. Mcdonough, Kirkland, WA (US);
Carl J. Ledbetter, Lynnwood, WA (US);
Robert Scott Plank, Bellevue, WA (US);
Steven W. Fisher, Bothell, WA (US);
Steven T. Kaneko, Seattle, WA (US);
Steven Bathiche, Redmond, WA (US);
Timothy A. McDonough, Kirkland, WA (US);
Carl J. Ledbetter, Lynnwood, WA (US);
Robert Scott Plank, Bellevue, WA (US);
Steven W. Fisher, Bothell, WA (US);
Steven T. Kaneko, Seattle, WA (US);
Steven Bathiche, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a supporting surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message. The notification can make the illumination member blink as a function of the number of messages received. This enables information to be conveyed to the user without the need for text or audio, and without the need to view the computer monitor.