Keyboard touchpad combination

• US 20040041791A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Garrett Dunker, SDSS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Garrett Dunker, SDSS Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunker, Garrett Storm
• Application Number:
  US10/064,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of the invention integrates touchpad cursor control, normally associated with portable computers, onto the top surfaces of keyboard keys. The keyboard keys are, themselves, a network of miniature touchpads. This design of cursor control allows the computer user access to cursor control without taking his or her fingers off the keyboard. The computer user will be able to type normally by pressing the keys down and then move the cursor by dragging a finger across the top surfaces of the keys. Using an intelligent touchpad or driver software, the computer recognizes a difference between a key that is being pressed and another that is being passed over.

Claims

1. A touchpad network comprising:

(a) a plurality of touchpads;

(b) a method for networking said touchpads to perform as a single larger touchpad.

3. A human computer keyboard interface device combined with the touchpad network of claim 1, comprising:

(a) a plurality of keyboard keys, a portion of said keyboard keys coupled to a touchpad, said touchpad being the top surface of said keys;

(b) a method indicating to a computer and display screen a distinguishable difference in user patterns for keyboarding input and cursor input such that said keyboarding input does not interfere with said cursor input and said cursor input does not interfere with said keyboarding input.

4. A human computer keyboard interface device combined with the touchpad network of claim 1, comprising:

(a) a plurality of keyboard keys, each of said keyboard keys coupled to a touchpad, said touchpad being the top surface of said keys;

(b) a method indicating to a computer and display screen a distinguishable difference in user patterns for keyboarding input and cursor input such that said keyboarding input does not interfere with said cursor input and said cursor input does not interfere with said keyboarding input.

2. A touchpad, coupled to a computer and display screen, comprising:

(a) a first input controlling mode, said first controlling mode dictates cursor movement on said display screen via a dragging motion across the surface of said touchpad;

(b) a second input controlling mode, said second controlling mode assigns specific input functions to specific locations on said touchpad;

where said specific input functions are initiated by tapping said specific location on said touchpad, and said tapping action and said corresponding specific input functions do not interfere with the input of said dragging motion and said corresponding cursor movement, and said dragging motion and said corresponding cursor movement does not interfere with said tapping action and said corresponding specific input functions.

5. A touchpad interface device, as in claim 2, where said second input controlling modes'"'"' said specific input functions are those of a typing keyboard functions and comprising:

(a) a plurality of keyboard key outlines, each of said keyboard keys outlines located on the surface of said touchpad interface device, and said tapping action within said outlines equates the function of the corresponding keyboard key input;

(b) a method indicating to said computer and display screen a distinguishable difference in user patterns for keyboarding input and cursor input such that said keyboarding input does not interfere with said cursor input and said cursor input does not interfere with said keyboarding input.