Integrated multi-function computer input device

Abstract

In an implementation of an integrated multi-function computer input device, the input device operates as both a pointing device and a scanning device. The input device includes a first user-selectable switch to activate a first scanning optical system when scanning an image with the input device in a first direction relative to a document page. The input device also includes a second user-selectable switch to activate a second scanning optical system when scanning the image with the input device in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 a computing device including a display and a processor;    an input device communicatively linked to the computing device to operate as both a pointing device and a scanning device, the input device being configured to generate an input to the processor and the processor being configured to translate the input for rendering on the display, the input device comprising: 
 a first user-selectable switch configured to activate a first scanning optical system when scanning an image with the input device in a first direction relative to a document page; and  
 a second user-selectable switch configured to activate a second scanning optical system when scanning the image with the input device in a second direction relative to the document page, the second direction being different than the first direction.  
   
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pointing device comprises a wireless mouse.  
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pointing device comprises an optical mouse.  
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the input device further comprises an optical sensor to sense a direction of movement of the input device, and Wherein the optical sensor is configured to be activated when the optical sensor senses a movement of the input device.  
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the input device further comprises a first optical sensor to sense a first direction of movement of the input device and a second optical sensor to sense a second direction of movement of the input device, and wherein at least one of the first and second optical sensors are configured to be activated when a movement of the input device is sensed.  
     
     
         6 . A computer mouse, comprising: 
 a housing;    a pointing component supported by the housing and configured to emulate a computer keyboard input to a computer;    a scanning component supported by the housing and configured to scan an image, the scanning component comprising a first scanning optical system and a second scanning optical system;    a first user-selectable switch supported by the housing and configured to activate the first scanning optical system when scanning an image with the computer mouse in a first direction relative to a document page; and    a second user-selectable switch supported by the housing and configured to activate the second scanning optical system when scanning the image with the computer mouse in a second direction relative to the document page, the second direction being different than the first direction.    
     
     
         7 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the pointing component comprises an optical sensor and a digital signal processor coupled to the optical sensor, the pointing component configured to sense a direction of movement of the computer mouse.  
     
     
         8 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a memory component mounted in the housing to store an image captured with the scanning component.  
     
     
         9 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the computer mouse is a wireless mouse.  
     
     
         10 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the computer mouse is an optical mouse.  
     
     
         11 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a function switch supported by the housing, the switch configured to toggle between a first position to activate the pointing component and a second position to activate the scanning component.  
     
     
         12 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 one or more multi-functional switches supported by the housing;    the switches being operably associated with the pointing component when the function switch is toggled to the first position; and    the switches being operably associated with the scanning component when the function switch is toggled to the second position.    
     
     
         13 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer mouse is configured to activate scanning software in a computing device when the second position of the function switch is selected to activate the scanning component.  
     
     
         14 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising an infrared transmitter mounted in the housing to communicatively link the computer mouse with a computing device.  
     
     
         15 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising an ultraviolet transmitter mounted in the housing to communicatively link the computer mouse with a computing device.  
     
     
         16 . A computer mouse as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising an optical sensor supported by the housing to sense a direction of movement of the computer mouse, wherein the scanning optical systems are configured to be activated when the optical sensor senses a movement of the computer mouse.