Input apparatus with supporting arm

• US 20020167491A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chun-Chung, Li, Chin-Chen
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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

Abstract

An input apparatus and auxiliary input apparatus are described. In one embodiment, the input apparatus has an input unit and at least one supporting arm. Users hold the supporting arms with some of their fingers and operate the input units with other of their fingers. In another embodiment, the auxiliary data input apparatus utilizes an attachment device, e.g. a clip, to attach the auxiliary input apparatus to an electronic or mechanical device, e.g. a separable keyboard, to facilitate input operations. The auxiliary input apparatus has at least one supporting arm. Users hold the supporting arms with some of their fingers and operate the electronic or mechanical device with other of their fingers.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

a case;

an input unit disposed on said case for a user to perform an input operation; and

at least one supporting arm connecting to said case, said user holding said supporting arm with some of his/her fingers and performing said input operation with other of his/her fingers.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said case further comprises a receiving space, and wherein said supporting arm is selectively stored in said receiving space.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said receiving space is a slot.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said receiving space is a groove.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 2, said input apparatus further comprising an activation device connecting to said case, wherein said activation device has a resilient unit and a switch, and wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm to escape from said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 2, said input apparatus further comprising an activation device connecting to said case, wherein said activation device has a resilient unit and a switch, and wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm into said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting arm is separably connected to said case.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit is a keyboard.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit is a joystick.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input apparatus is integrated with an electronic device.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

13. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said attachment device further comprises a receiving space, and wherein said supporting arm is selectively stored in said receiving space.

14. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary input apparatus further comprises an activation device, said activation device having a resilient unit and a switch, wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm to escape from said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

15. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 13, said auxiliary input apparatus further comprising an activation device, said activation device comprising a resilient unit and a switch, wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm into said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

16. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said attachment device comprises a clip.

17. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first device is an input apparatus.

18. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said input apparatus is a keyboard.

19. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first apparatus is an electronic device.

20. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

12. An auxiliary input apparatus used for selectively attaching to a first apparatus, comprising:

an attachment device, attaching to said first device in a separately manner;

at least one supporting arm connecting to said attachment device such that a user holds said supporting arm with some of his/her fingers and operates said first device with other of his/her fingers when said attachment device is attached to said first apparatus.