Input module and operating method thereof

• US 20040196268A1
• Filed: 04/03/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Chien-Shih, Hsu, Huang-Chang
• Application Number:
  US10/817,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/169 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

Abstract

An input module and operation method thereof. The input module includes a base with a post and a touchpad movably thereon, perpendicular thereto. The touchpad includes a touch-sensitive input surface with a plurality of defined character areas. Contacting one of the character areas and pressing the touchpad generates corresponding character output.

Claims

1. An input module, comprising:

a base;

a post disposed on the base; and

a touchpad movably disposed on the post, perpendicular thereto.

2. The input module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame disposed on the base surrounding the touchpad moving therein.

3. The input module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a scissors-type support mechanism disposed between the base and the touchpad.

4. The input module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touchpad comprises a plurality of defined character areas.

5. The input module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the touchpad comprises a touch-sensitive defining the character areas.

6. The input module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface comprises a plurality of alphanumeric character areas.

7. An operating method for an electronic device with a monitor, comprising the steps of:

providing an input module having a base with a post and a touchpad movably thereon, wherein the touchpad comprises a touch-sensitive input surface with a plurality of defined character areas;

contacting the touchpad within a defined character area; and

pressing the touchpad.