Pointing input device imitating inputting of hotkeys of a keyboard

• US 20060044261A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Electronics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Electronics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Kao-Cheng
• Application Number:
  US10/932,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

The pointing input device includes: keys to generate key variation signals, a displacement generating means to generate displacement signals, a controller connecting the keys and the displacement generating means to receive the key variation signals and the displacement signals. The device is characterized by that: when the pointing input device is in a first working mode, the controller receives the key variation signals and the displacement signals and converts them into corresponding pointing data signals; and when the pointing input device is in a second working mode, the controller converts the key variation signals and the displacement signals into corresponding hotkey signals of a keyboard according to the direction and the speed of displacement of the key variation signals and the displacement signals.

Claims

1. A pointing input device capable of imitating inputting of hotkeys of a keyboard, said pointing input device comprises:

a plurality of keys to generate key variation signals;

a displacement generating means to generate displacement signals;

a controller connecting a plurality of keys and said displacement generating means to receive said key variation signals and said displacement signals;

said pointing input device is characterized by that;

when said pointing input device is in a first working mode, said controller receives said key variation signals and said displacement signals and converts them into corresponding pointing data signals; and

when said pointing input device is in a second working mode, said controller converts said key variation signals and said displacement signals into corresponding hotkey signals of a keyboard according to direction and speed of displacement of said key variation signals and said displacement signals.

2. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said pointing input device is one of a mouse, a trackball and a joystick.

3. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said keys are respectively a left key, a middle key and a right key.

4. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said controller is used to switch working mode of said pointing input device according to said key variation signals received.

5. The pointing input device as in claim 4, wherein said keys are combinations of a left key, a middle key and a right key.

6. The pointing input device as in claim 4, wherein said keys include a mode switching key.

7. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said pointing input device further comprises:

an input key to assure that said key variation signals and said displacement signals are variation signals for switching to said second working mode.

8. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said corresponding hotkey signals of said keyboard are of a kind of scan code signal of said corresponding hotkeys of said keyboard.

9. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein displacing directions of said displacement signals are respectively upward, downward, rightward and leftward directions.

10. The pointing input device as in claim 1, wherein said speed of displacement of said displacement signals is a total amount of said displacement signals within a predetermined time.