Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) gets patent for the Mighty Mouse

Apple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) was granted patent rights on Tuesday for the mouse embedded with touch sensors, which is commonly called the Apple Mouse, or the Mighty Mouse. On Tuesday, the company was given patent rights by the U.S Patent and Trademark office, under the patent number of No. 8,279,176 of the U.S Patent. Previously called the Mighty Mouse, the device is said to have been improved with cutting-edge technology, and super-sensitive touch sensors. The patent was granted both for Apple’s Magic Mouse, as well as the now-named Apple Mouse, which is the one with the improved touch sensors.

The patent which was Granted on Tuesday is a continuation of a 2005 patent, and it has been cross-referenced with seven other GUI input related properties which spanned the years 2002 and 2003.

The IP mentions a mouse which has a monolithic unibody top member, which has the touch sensors. The top member is said to move relative to a bottom member which has a pivot mechanism. The new design is sleek and design-efficient, like most other Apple products. The elegance of the mouse by Apple is very pleasing to the eye, since it is far removed from the looks of a regular, run-of-the-mill mouse, due to the absence of breaks in the top casing, and mechanical buttons.

The cover portion, with lack of multiple buttons, forms one large button. The pivotal mechanism is towards the rear of the mouse, thereby making the upper member move forward and backward, when pressure is applied on it. The microcontroller is activated by a switch which is in turn activated by the top member and it is the microcontroller which sends a signal to the computer about the actions of the mouse. The single button, however, does make things uncomfortable, as compared to the multiple buttons on the conventional mouse makes. The “touch signal”, the “touch event”, or the “button event” are the unique features which are a result of the touch sensors. While the “jogball” controls scrolling and cursor movements, several features which were mentioned in the feedback, were not introduced to the device, such as LED lights and haptic motion devices, amongst other suggestions.