Computer keyboard with pointer control

• US 20060082548A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Kodama
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Kodama
• Inventors: Kodama, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer pointer control device includes a support base and a keyboard. The device includes a structure configured to reduce friction between the support base and an underlying surface. A wrist support is positioned on the support base, configured to receive a user'"'"'s wrist thereon such that keys of the keyboard are under the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand, while the user is able to slide the device over the underlying surface by applying lateral pressure to the wrist support. A position tracking mechanism coupled to the device is configured to detect horizontal movement of the base over the underlying surface and transmit a signal to an associated computer to control an on-screen pointer. The device may be configured to receive both of a user'"'"'s wrists or may be one of a pair of similar pointer control devices configured to be independently controlled by the user.

Claims

1. A computer pointer control device, comprising:

a support base;

a computer keyboard having a plurality of alphabetical keys, the keyboard being positioned on the support base;

a wrist support coupled to the support base and configured to receive a user'"'"'s wrist thereon in a position such that at least some of the plurality of the keys of the keyboard are under the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand; and

a structure configured to reduce friction between the support base and an underlying surface.

2. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 further comprising a position tracking mechanism configured to detect movement of the base over the underlying surface.

3. The computer pointer control device of claim 2 wherein the position tracking mechanism is coupled to the support base.

4. The computer pointer control device of claim 2 wherein the position tracking mechanism comprises:

a roller-ball rotatably coupled to the support base;

means for detecting rotation of the roller-ball around two axes; and

means for transmitting a control signal to a computer to control movement of an onscreen pointer in response to detected rotation of the roller-ball.

5. The computer pointer control device of claim 2 wherein the position tracking mechanism comprises:

an optical tracking mechanism coupled to the support base and configured to detect a change of position of the base and the underlying surface in two axes; and

means for transmitting a control signal to a computer to control movement of an onscreen pointer in response to detected changes of position in the two axes.

6. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 further comprising a mouse-click button and scroll-wheel positioned adjacent to the support surface such that, when the user'"'"'s hand is resting on the support surface, the mouse-click button and scroll-wheel are within reach of the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand.

7. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 further comprising:

an additional support base;

an additional computer keyboard having a plurality of keys, positioned on the additional support base;

an additional support surface coupled to the additional support base and configured to receive an additional one of the user'"'"'s hands resting thereon in a position such that at least some of the plurality of the keys of the additional keyboard are under the fingers of the additional hand; and

an additional structure configured to reduce lateral friction between the additional support base and the underlying surface.

8. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 further comprising:

an additional support surface coupled to the support base and configured to receive an additional one of the user'"'"'s wrists resting thereon in a position such that at least some of the plurality of the keys of the keyboard are under the fingers of the additional hand.

9. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 wherein the computer keyboard and the support base are integrated in a single unit.

10. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 wherein the computer keyboard is removably positioned on the support base.

11. The computer pointer control device of claim 1 comprising a mouse dock configured to receive a computer mouse such that movement of the device over the underlying surface is detected by the mouse.

12. The computer pointer control device of claim 1, further comprising a computer electronically coupled to the keyboard.

13. A pointer control device, comprising:

a support base configured to removably receive a computer keyboard thereon;

means for reducing friction between the support base and an underlying surface; and

a support surface coupled to the support base and configured to receive a user'"'"'s wrist thereon in a position such that, when the computer keyboard is properly positioned on the support base, at least some of the plurality of the keys of the keyboard are under the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising detecting means for detecting changes in position of the support base relative to the underlying surface, and for transmitting information regarding such changes to an associated computer.

15. The device of claim 13 further comprising a mouse dock configured to receive a computer pointer control device for tracking a position of the support base relative to the underlying surface.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a screen configured to display information;

an outer surface configured to form a lower face of the device such that, when the device is positioned on an underlying surface, the outer surface is in a face-to-face relationship with the underlying surface; and

a tracking structure positioned at the outer surface of the device and configured to detect changes of position of the device relative to the underlying surface.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the tracking structure is configured to provide a signal to the electronic device such that movement of the device on the underlying surface is reflected by movement of a pointer on the screen.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the device is selected from among a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a portable game player, a digital media player, and a pocket computer.

19. A game interface device, comprising;

a joystick coupled to a base; and

a tracking structure positioned on the base and configured to detect changes of position of the device relative to an underlying surface, and to transmit data related to the changes of position to an associated game system.