Keyboard with integrated key and touchpad

• US 20070091070A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven, C. Larsen, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/074 Actuation by finger touch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/024 Avoid unwanted operation

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to a keyboard with integrated key and touchpad. In an example embodiment, a keyboard is provided that includes a plurality of keys, each key being capable of being pressed to select one or more keyboard inputs. The keyboard also includes a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a first key of the keys to allow pointer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key capable of being pressed to select one or more keyboard inputs; and

a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a first key of said keys to allow pointer or other computer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad, wherein the first key is capable of traveling a distance of at least 0.1 mm between a pressed position and a not pressed position.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first key is capable of traveling a distance of at least 1 mm between a pressed position and a not pressed position.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a keyboard controller coupled to the plurality of keys and the micro touchpad.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a second key of said keys to allow additional computer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad of the second key.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first key comprises one of the following:

G key, H key, J key, F key and space bar key.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a second key of said keys to allow scrolling control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad of the second key.

7. The keyboard of claim 6 wherein the first key and the second key comprises one of the following:

F key, G key, H key, J key or space bar.

8. The keyboard of claim 6 wherein the first key comprises either the H key or the J key, and the second key comprises the F key or the G key.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 and further comprising a flexible conductor coupled to the micro touchpad that is adapted to flex when the first key travels between a pressed position and a not pressed position.

10. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first key comprises an insulative key cover provided on an upper surface, a side surface and/or at least a portion of a lower surface of the key.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key capable of being pressed to select one or more key inputs;

a micro touchpad provided on an upper surface of a first key of said keys, the micro touchpad adapted to allow at least small-scale pointer or other computer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of the micro touchpad; and

a macro touchpad including a touch sensor provided on an upper surface of each of a plurality of said keys, the macro touch pad adapted to allow at least large-scale pointer or other computer control by moving a finger or other object across a top surface of one or more the plurality of keys of the macro touch pad.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein one or more of the keys is capable of traveling a distance of at least 1 mm between a pressed position and a not pressed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of the touch sensors provided on each of a plurality of the keys comprises a micro touchpad.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a resolution of the micro touchpad of the first key is greater than a resolution of the micro touchpads in one or more of the keys used for the macro touchpad.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein one of the keys is adapted to operate as a mode key to select between a keyboard mode and a touchpad mode for the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus comprises a keyboard, and further comprising an indicator adapted to indicate when the keyboard is operating in a keyboard mode and when the apparatus is operating in a touchpad mode, the indicator being provided on the keyboard or other location.

17. A method of selecting touchpad input and key input comprising:

determining if a key has been pressed;

determining if touch activity is detected;

if a key has been pressed, then enabling key input and disabling touch input for a period of time after each key has been pressed; and

otherwise, if a key has not be pressed, then;

enabling touch input; and

if touch input is detected, then disabling key input.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising:

buffering key input data temporarily when key input is disabled; and

buffering touch input data temporarily when touch input is disabled.