Dual navigation control computer keyboard

• US 20050025549A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McLoone, Hugh E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A computer keyboard may include an assembly for scrolling and navigating an image in multiple directions relative to a display screen. A computer keyboard may include an assembly for control of a graphical object, insertion point or mouse cursor in multiple directions relative to objects on a display screen. Two control devices are provided onto each side of a computer keyboard. The devices are configured such that both control a graphical cursor. One device controls a graphical cursor and the other device controls view scrolling of an image. In yet another aspect, the functionality of the devices for cursor control or view scrolling is selectable.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard configured for navigation of a graphical user interface of a host computer, comprising:

a first navigation section including a first input device configured to receive manual movement according to a user-selectable mode and responsive thereto configured for scrolling content items of a display screen relative to the display screen along perpendicular axes or freeform moving a graphical pointer relative to the perpendicular axes;

a second navigation section including a second input device configured to receive manual movement and responsive thereto configured for moving a graphical pointer relative to the perpendicular axes;

an alphanumeric section being laterally disposed between the first navigation section and the second navigation section.

2. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a trackball assembly including a spherical member being rotatably configured to receive the manual movement;

and a scrolling sensing system that determines when said spherical member is rotated for scrolling along one of the perpendicular axes.

3. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a trackball assembly including a spherical member being rotatably configured to receive the manual movement;

and a scrolling sensing system being configured to sense a transition state of the spherical member when the member is rotated for a first directional scrolling along one of the perpendicular axes and responsive to the transition state change to a second directional scrolling along the other of the perpendicular axes.

4. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a trackball assembly including a spherical member being rotatably configured to receive the manual movement;

and a scrolling sensing system being configured to sense a transition state of the spherical member when the member is rotated for scrolling along one of the perpendicular axes.

5. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a trackball assembly including a spherical member being rotatably configured to receive the manual movement;

and a scrolling sensing system that determines when said spherical member is rotated for directional scrolling along one of the perpendicular axes to a threshold level after a transition state of the directional scrolling so as to maintain said scrolling.

6. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said first input device and the second input device each further comprises a trackball device.

7. The computer keyboard according to claim 6, wherein said first input device further comprises a scroll wheel assembly.

8. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said first input device comprises a touchpad.

9. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said first input device comprises a touchpad and the second input device comprises a trackball device.

10. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said first input device comprises a trackball device and the second input device comprises a touchpad.

11. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the user-selectable mode is responsive to voice input.

12. The computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the first input device is configured to adjusting a scale of a said content item of a display screen.

13. A computer keyboard configured for navigation of a graphical user interface of a host computer, comprising:

a keyboard housing;

a trackball device disposed with the keyboard housing having an opening, said trackball device having a movable ball within said opening and said movable ball being configured to receive manual movement according to a user-selectable mode and responsive thereto configured for scrolling content items of a display screen relative to the display screen in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction or freeform moving a graphical pointer relative to two dimensions of the image display screen;

a second input device configured to receive manual movement and responsive thereto configured for moving a graphical pointer relative to two dimensions of the image display screen; and

an alphanumeric section being disposed between the trackball device and the second input device.

14. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the trackball device further includes a scrolling sensing system that determines when said movable ball is rotated for the vertical scrolling and the horizontal scrolling.

15. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the trackball device further includes a scrolling sensing system being configured to sense a transition state of the movable ball when the ball is rotated for vertical scrolling and responsive to the transition state change to horizontal scrolling.

16. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the trackball device further includes a scrolling sensing system being configured to sense a transition state of the movable ball when the ball is rotated for horizontal scrolling, and responsive to a change in the transition state, changing said horizontal scrolling to vertical scrolling.

17. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the trackball device further includes a scrolling sensing system that determines when the movable ball is rotated for vertical scrolling to a threshold parameter after a transition state of the horizontal scrolling so as to maintain said vertical scrolling.

18. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the trackball device further includes a scrolling sensing system that determines when the movable ball is rotated for horizontal scrolling to a threshold parameter after a transition state of the vertical scrolling so as to maintain said horizontal scrolling during said rotation.

19. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein said second input device comprises a touchpad.

23. The computer keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the user-selectable mode is toggled responsive to voice input.

20. A wireless computer keyboard configured for navigation of a graphical user interface of a host computer, comprising:

a housing;

a first input device configured to receive manual movement according to a user-selectable mode and responsive thereto configured for scrolling content items of a display screen relative to the display screen in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction or freeform moving a graphical pointer relative to two dimensions of the image display screen;

a second input device configured to receive manual movement and responsive thereto configured for moving a graphical pointer relative to two dimensions of the image display screen; and

an alphanumeric section being disposed between the first input device and the second input device.

24. The computer keyboard according to claim 20, wherein the user-selectable mode is toggled responsive to voice input.

21. (cancelled).

22. (cancelled).