HAND-HELD REMOTE COMPUTER INPUT PERIPHERAL WITH TOUCH PAD USED FOR CURSOR CONTROL AND TEXT ENTRY ON A SEPARATE DISPLAY

• US 20010040551A1
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SMK-Link Electronic Corp. (SMK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: TICKLE, JAMES D., YATES, WILLIAM ALLEN, SEGAL, JACK A., BRANTON, STEVEN B., SMITHER, MICHAEL R., MARTINELLI, JOHN K.
• Application Number:
  US09/363,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/014 handicapped
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/022 Part of keyboard not operable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/048 adapted for operation by left- and right-handed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/016 combined with start switch, discrete keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/066 Duplication of control panel, e.g. duplication of some keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A hand-held remote computer input peripheral for communicating with a host computer having a display screen. An operator holds the input peripheral in space with a first hand. The input peripheral includes activation mode buttons each corresponding to a respective activation mode of the touch pad for controlling the display screen. The activation modes include a text entry mode for entering text on the display screen and a cursor control mode for controlling a cursor on the display screen. The input peripheral further includes a touch pad. The operator manipulates the touch pad using a second hand while holding the input peripheral with the first hand to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen. The text entry mode includes an annotation mode for enabling the operator to draw on to the display screen and a type mode for enabling the operator to print text on to the display screen. The operator draws on to the display screen in the annotation mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad. The operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to handwrite the text and conversion software converts the handwritten text to printed text. The operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to select letters of an on-screen keyboard displayed on the display screen.

Claims

1. A hand-held remote computer input peripheral for communicating with a host computer having a display screen, the input peripheral comprising:

a housing having a top surface, first and second opposed side surfaces, and a rear surface, wherein an operator holds the housing in space by gripping the first side surface with a first hand;

a plurality of activation mode buttons positioned in the top surface of the housing, each of the activation mode buttons corresponding to a respective activation mode of the touch pad for controlling the display screen, the activation modes of the touch pad including a text entry mode for entering text on the display screen and a cursor control mode for controlling a cursor on the display screen, wherein the operator switches between activation modes by pressing the activation mode buttons with the second hand; and

a touch pad positioned in the top surface of the housing, wherein the operator manipulates the touch pad using a second hand while holding the housing with the first hand to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen.

2. The input peripheral of

claim 1

further comprising:

a plurality of function keys positioned in the top surface of the housing, each of the function keys corresponding to a respective function, wherein the operator actuates functions by pressing the function keys using the first hand while manipulating the touch pad with the second hand.

3. The input peripheral of

claim 1

further comprising:

a click button positioned on the housing to be actuated by the first hand of the operator to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen, wherein the operator actuates the click button with the first hand while manipulating the touch pad with the second hand to control the display screen.

4. The input peripheral of

claim 3

wherein:

the click button is positioned on the first side surface to be actuated by the operator using the thumb of the first hand.

5. The input peripheral of

claim 3

wherein:

the click button is positioned on the rear surface adjacent to the first side portion to be actuated by the operator using the forefinger of the first hand.

6. The input peripheral of

claim 1

further comprising:

a pan and scroll region adjacent to the touch pad, wherein the operator manipulates the pan and scroll region using the second hand to control the display screen.

7. The input peripheral of

claim 1

wherein:

the operator manipulates the touch pad using a finger of the second hand.

8. The input peripheral of

claim 1

wherein:

the operator manipulates the touch pad using a stylus held by the second hand.

9. The input peripheral of

claim 1

wherein:

the text entry mode includes an annotation mode for enabling the operator to draw on to the display screen and a type mode for enabling the operator to print text on to the display screen.

10. The input peripheral of

claim 9

wherein:

the operator draws on to the display screen in the annotation mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad.

11. The input peripheral of

claim 9

wherein:

the operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to handwrite the text, wherein conversion software converts the handwritten text to printed text.

12. The input peripheral of

claim 9

wherein:

the operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to select letters of an on-screen keyboard displayed on the display screen.

13. The input peripheral of

claim 1

wherein:

the cursor control mode allows the operator to manipulate the touch pad such that the input peripheral functions as a computer mouse.

14. The input peripheral of

claim 3

wherein:

the cursor control mode allows the operator to manipulate the touch pad in conjunction with the click button such that the input peripheral functions as a computer mouse.

15. The input peripheral of

claim 1

further comprising:

a microphone for receiving audio signals and a speaker for transmitting audio signals, wherein the activation modes further include an Internet telephony mode for enabling Internet telephonic communication with another operator through the host computer, the microphone, and the speaker.

16. The input peripheral of

claim 1

further comprising:

a microphone for receiving audio signals, wherein the operator generates an audible command into the microphone to control the display screen.

17. A hand-held remote computer input peripheral for communicating with a host computer having a display screen, the input peripheral comprising:

a housing having a top surface, first and second opposed side surfaces, and a rear surface, wherein an operator holds the housing in space by gripping the first side surface with a first hand;

a plurality of activation mode buttons positioned in the top surface of the housing, each of the activation mode buttons corresponding to a respective activation mode of the touch pad for controlling the display screen, the activation modes of the touch pad including an annotation mode for drawing on the display screen, a printed text entry mode for entering printed text on the display screen, and a cursor control mode for controlling a cursor on the display screen, wherein the operator switches between activation modes by pressing the activation mode buttons with the second hand;

a touch pad positioned in the top surface of the housing, wherein the operator manipulates the touch pad using a second hand while holding the housing with the first hand to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen; and

a click button positioned on the housing to be actuated by the first hand of the operator to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen, wherein the operator actuates the click button with the first hand while manipulating the touch pad with the second hand to control the display screen.

18. The input peripheral of

claim 17

wherein:

the operator draws on to the display screen in the annotation mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad.

19. The input peripheral of

claim 17

wherein:

the operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to handwrite the text, wherein conversion software converts the handwritten text to printed text.

20. The input peripheral of

claim 17

wherein:

the operator prints text on to the display screen in the type mode by moving a finger of the second hand across the touch pad to select letters of an on-screen keyboard displayed on the display screen.