Dead front mouse

A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:na top housing that is semi-opaque;an icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source and an icon plate, wherein the light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the top housing, and wherein the icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing if the light source is not lighted; anda processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source; andwherein:nthe top housing includes a control button and the icon indicator is disposed under the control button,in a lighted state of the light source the icon indicator indicates a first function of the control button, andin non-lighted state of the light source the control button has a second function different from the first function.

A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:na top housing including a set of control button, wherein the top housing is semi-opaque; andan icon indicator disposed under the top housing, the icon indicator including a light source;an icon plate;a light pipe configured to direct light from the light source to the icon plate;a light shield configured to block light traveling away from the icon plate; anda processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source,wherein:nthe top housing includes a control button and the icon plate is disposed under the control button,if the light source is lighted, the light source is configured to light the icon plate to display an icon through the control button to indicate a first function of the control button, andif the light source is not lighted the icon plate and the icon are substantially not visible through the top housing and the control button has a second function different from the first function.

A mouse configured to display an icon comprising:nleft and right control buttons;a middle control button disposed between the left and right control buttons;a switch disposed under the middle control button and configured to be activated if the middle control button is pressed;a touch pad disposed under the middle control button and configured to detect movement of an object on a top surface of the middle control button;at least one icon indicator including a light source both disposed under at least a given one of the left, right, and middle control buttons, wherein the icon indicator is configured to be lighted by the light source to project an icon onto an under surface of the given control button under which the icon indicator is located to project the icon through the given control button; anda processor configured to send a control signal to the light source to turn on or off the light source,wherein:nif the light source is lighted, the light source is configured to light the icon indicator to display an icon through the given control button to indicate a first function of the control button, andif the light source is not lighted the icon indicator and icon are substantially not visible through the top housing and the control button has a second function different from the first function.