Computer keyboard and cursor control system with keyboard map switching system

• US 20030201971A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meadwestvaco (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Meadwestvaco (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Iesaka, Kazuho
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer keyboard and cursor control system for use with a computer having a pointing device manually operated by one or more fingers of a user. Upon sensing the presence of a finger on the pointing device, the system converts or “remaps” at least one typing key into other functional key(s) such as a “left click” button similar to that found on a conventional mouse.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard and cursor control system, comprising:

a keyboard having one or more typing keys;

a first keymap and a second keymap;

a pointing device for controlling an operation of a cursor on a display screen;

whereby the pointing device deactivates the first keymap and activates the second keymap when the pointing device is touched, whereby the second keymap switches functions of selected one or more typing keys on the keyboard to other functions.

2. The system of claim 1 whereby the pointing device remains active at all times to allow a user to control the cursor manually.

3. The system of claim 1 whereby the display screen is touch-sensitive and the keyboard is displayed on the display screen.

4. The system of claim 1 whereby a signal is generated when a user touches the pointing device.

5. The system of claim 1 whereby one or more sensors are placed on the pointing device to detect whether a user is touching or not touching the pointing device.

6. The system of claim 1 whereby a signal indicating movement of the cursor is utilized for detecting whether the user is touching or not touching the pointing device.

7. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of selected keys on the keyboard are switched into other functions that are specified by an active application.

8. The system of claim 1 whereby neither the first nor the second keymap is switched to another keymap while one or more keys on the keyboard are held pressed.

9. The system of claim 1 whereby shortcut keys are detected and executed regardless of whether the first keymap or the second keymap has been activated.

10. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into mouse click functions upon activation of the second keymap.

11. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into window scroll functions upon activation of the second keymap.

12. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into page back/forward functions upon activation of the second keymap.

13. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into script execution functions upon activation of the second keymap.

14. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into application launch functions upon activation of the second keymap.

15. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into open file functions upon activation of the second keymap.

16. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into sound volume control functions upon activation of the second keymap.

17. The system of claim 1 whereby functions of one or more typing keys are switched into display-brightness-control functions upon activation of the second keymap.

18. The system of claim 1 whereby an icon on the display screen indicates whether the first keymap or the second keymap is activated

19. The system of claim 1 whereby a light indicates whether the first keymap or the second keymap is activated.

20. The system of claim 1 whereby the appearance of the cursor on the display screen indicates whether the first keymap or second keymap is activated.

21. The system of claim 1 whereby two sets of each of the first keymap and the second keymap are stored in a computer memory, one set intended for right-handed users and the other set intended for left-handed users.

22. The system of claim 1 whereby one or more separate mouse click buttons are included in addition to the first keymap and second keymap.

23. A method for switching the functions of one or more keys of a computer keyboard using a cursor pointing device, comprising the steps of:

activating a first keymap for enabling text typing functions by a user;

detecting the presence of a user'"'"'s finger touching the pointing device; and

deactivating the first keymap and activating a second keymap upon detection of the user'"'"'s finger touching the pointing device;

whereby one or more keys of the keyboard are enabled to control non-text typing functions during activation of the second keymap.

24. The method of claim 23 whereby the pointing device remains active at all times so as to allow manual operation of the cursor.

25. The method of claim 23 whereby the keyboard is displayed on a touch sensitive display screen.

26. The method of claim 23 whereby a signal from the pointing device is generated when the user is touching the pointing device.

27. The method of claim 23 whereby a signal from a sensor on the pointing device is generated when the user is touching the pointing device.

28. The method of claim 23 whereby a signal indicating movement of the cursor is used to detect whether the user is touching or not touching the pointing device.

29. The method of claim 23 whereby, upon activation of the second keymap, functions of selected keys on the keyboard are switched into other functions that are specified by an active application.

30. The method of claim 23 whereby neither the first nor the second keymap is switched to another keymap while one or more keys on the keyboard are held pressed.

31. The method of claim 23 whereby shortcut keys are detected and executed regardless of whether the first or second keymap is activated.

32. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into mouse click functions upon activation of the second keymap.

33. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into window scroll functions upon activation of the second keymap.

34. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into page back/forward functions upon activation of the second keymap.

35. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into script execution functions upon activation of the second keymap.

36. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into launch application functions upon activation of the second keymap.

37. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into open file functions upon activation of the second keymap.

38. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into sound volume control functions upon activation of the second keymap.

39. The method of claim 23 whereby functions of one or more keys on the keyboard are switched into display-brightness-control functions upon activation of the second keymap.

40. The method of claim 23 whereby an icon on a display screen indicates whether the first or second keymap is activated.

41. The method of claim 23 whereby a light indicates whether the first or second keymap is activated.

42. The method of claim 23 whereby the appearance of a cursor on a display screen indicates whether the first or second keymap is indicated.

43. The method of claim 23 whereby two sets each of the first and second keymaps are stored in a computer memory, one set intended for right-handed users and the other set intended for left-handed users.

44. The method of claim 23 whereby one or more separate mouse click buttons are provided in addition to the first and second keymaps.