Computer mouse

Abstract

A computer mouse includes a housing. The housing includes a non-metallic base and a shell attached to the non-metallic base. The shell is formed of an electrically conductive material. The computer mouse includes a user input device in the housing. The user input device is manually operable by a user to generate a control signal. The computer mouse includes an antenna within the housing. The antenna is configured to receive the control signal from the user input device. The antenna is configured to emit a wireless signal, based on the control signal, to control operations of a computing device.

1 . A computer mouse comprising:
 a non-metallic base forming a bottom portion of the computer mouse;   an upper housing attached to the non-metallic base, the upper housing comprising a shell formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the shell at least partially defines an exterior surface and an interior surface of the computer mouse;   a user input device manually operable by a user to generate a control signal;   an antenna in an interior space of the computer mouse, the antenna configured to receive the control signal from the user input device and emit a wireless signal, based on the control signal, to control operations of a computing device, wherein the antenna is spaced apart from the shell; and   a printed circuit board on which the antenna is disposed, wherein the printed circuit board is mounted to the non-metallic base.   
     
     
         2 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises at least one of magnesium, titanium, carbon fiber, or aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic base is formed of a polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The computer mouse of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprises polyetherimide. 
     
     
         5 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a trace antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical sensor configured to direct an optical signal through an opening on a bottom of the computer mouse,   wherein the wireless signal is a first wireless signal, and the control signal is a first control signal, and   wherein the antenna is configured to:
 receive a second control signal from the optical sensor in response to motion of the bottom of the computer mouse across a surface on which the bottom of the computer mouse is positioned, and 
 emit a second wireless signal, in response to the second control signal, to control operations of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The computer mouse of  claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor is positioned in a central portion of the computer mouse. 
     
     
         8 . The computer mouse of  claim 7 , wherein the optical sensor is positioned on the printed circuit board, and wherein the antenna is offset rearwardly from the optical sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The computer mouse of  claim 8 , wherein the user input device is connected to the printed circuit board at a location in front of the antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The computer mouse of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom of the computer mouse comprises a substantially planar surface positionable on the surface. 
     
     
         11 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic base extends across an entire length and an entire width of a bottom of the computer mouse. 
     
     
         12 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic base has a height between 0.5 and 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material is magnesium. 
     
     
         14 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a plurality of openings extending through the shell, the plurality of openings being positioned along the exterior surface of the computer mouse. 
     
     
         15 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing comprises a button plate actuatable to operate the user input device, the button plate formed of the electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         16 . The computer mouse of  claim 15 , wherein the upper housing comprises a plurality of openings positioned along the exterior surface of the computer mouse, a first portion of the plurality of openings being positioned along the shell, and a second portion of the plurality of openings being positioned along the button plate. 
     
     
         17 . The computer mouse of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of openings are polygonal openings. 
     
     
         18 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness of portions of the upper housing formed by the electrically conductive material is between 0.3 millimeters and 3 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , comprising a housing comprising the non-metallic base and the upper housing, wherein the housing is 30% to 60% by weight formed of the electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         20 . The computer mouse of  claim 1 , wherein an overall weight of the computer mouse is no more than 60 grams. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)