Notebook computer force-controlled pointing stick device

• US 20030206154A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tomoyuki, Stewart, Aaron Michael, Shima, Hisashi, Hill, David Wayne, Sawin, David Andrew, Yamazaki, Kazuhiko, Mieki, Naraiki
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

A notebook computer force-controlled pointing stick device incorporates a more comfortable cap with enhanced ergonomic features. The device is generally cylindrical in shape and is located between the G, H, and B keys on the computer keyboard. The upper end of the device has a donut-like shape with a concave or crown-shaped central portion that forms well to the user'"'"'s finger and provides better control, but does not interfere with typing. The upper end preferably has a rubber tip that provides improved control for a finger of a user. In an alternate version, the device is similar in shape to a bicycle saddle.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a system unit;

a keyboard interconnected with the system unit and having a plurality of keys, wherein upper ends of the keys define a plane;

a pointing actuator mounted to the keyboard between selected ones of the keys for manipulation by a user'"'"'s finger; and

wherein

at least a portion of an upper end of the actuator is located beneath the plane defined by the upper ends of the keys.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the actuator is concave.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said at least a portion of the upper end of the actuator is a majority of the upper end of the actuator.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the actuator has a perimeter with an upper surface area defined therein, wherein the entire upper surface area is located beneath the plane.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the actuator is circumscribed by an integral circular rim and an external conical flare, the inner surface of the rim defining a concave aperture, and the upper end is formed from a resilient elastomeric material to provide enhanced leverage and control for the user.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the actuator is mounted to an underlying support base having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the upper end.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the actuator is configured in a bicycle saddle-like shape.

8. A manual control input device for use in a keyboard, comprising:

a rigid structural support base;

a resilient protrusion mounted to the base and having an outer surface that tapers conically to the base, and an integral circular rim circumscribing the protrusion; and

a shallow concave aperture surface defined by the rim.

9. The input device of claim 8 wherein the protrusion is formed from an elastomeric material.

10. The input device of claim 8 wherein the protrusion has a maximum diameter that is greater than that of the base.

11. The input device of claim 8 wherein only the rim of the protrusion is adapted to extend above a plane defined by the top surfaces of the keys in the keyboard.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a system unit;

a keyboard interconnected with the system unit and having a plurality of keys, wherein upper ends of the keys define a plane;

a saddle-shaped pointing actuator mounted to the keyboard between selected ones of the keys for manipulation by a user'"'"'s finger; and

wherein

at least a portion of an upper surface of the actuator is concave and located beneath the plane defined by the upper ends of the keys.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein projections of the actuator extend into spaces between the G, H, and B keys of the keyboard.

14. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the upper end of the actuator is circumscribed by an integral rim, the inner surface of the rim defining the upper surface, and an exposed portion of the actuator is formed from a resilient elastomeric material.

15. The computer system of claim 12 wherein an exposed portion of the actuator is mounted to an underlying rigid structural support base.