Laptop Computer System Having Extended Touch-Pad Functionality and a Method For Producing the Laptop Computer System Having Extended Touch-Pad Functionality

• US 20080012831A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fogell, Jennifer A., Bauman, Amanda, Bauman, Brian, Carlson, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US11/457,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012831A1
• 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

Abstract

A laptop computer system having extended touch-pad functionality and a method for producing the laptop computer system having extended touch-pad functionality are provided. The laptop computer system includes a touch-pad having a first portion parallel and adjacent to a second portion. The touch-pad is configured for at least one of, (i) the first portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a first region of the first display and the second portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a second region of the first display. Secondly, (ii) the first portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on the first display and the second portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on a second display connected to the laptop computer system.

Claims

1. A laptop computer system having extended touch-pad functionality, comprising:

a base housing a microprocessor, the microprocessor being communicatively coupled to a system storage, a video controller and a mass storage via a bus for communicating, the system storage, the video controller and the mass storage also being housed in the base;

a keyboard having a plurality of keys, the keys communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus, the keyboard being embedded in the base;

a first display connected to the base via a first hinge and a second hinge such that the first display is moveable between a closed position and an open position, the first display communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the video controller which drives the display; and

a touch-pad having a first portion parallel and adjacent to a second portion, the touch-pad configured for at least one of, (i) the first portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a first region of the first display and the second portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a second region of the first display, and (ii) the first portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on the first display and the second portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on a second display connected to the laptop computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch pad is embedded in the base and communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second display includes a support stand for positioning the second display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second display further includes a conductive cable for communicatively coupling the second display to the laptop computer system.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a mouse stick embedded in the base, the mouse stick being communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus.

7. A method for producing a laptop computer system having extended touch-pad functionality, comprising:

producing a base housing a microprocessor, the microprocessor being communicatively coupled to a system storage, a video controller and a mass storage via a bus for communicating, the system storage, the video controller and the mass storage also being housed in the base;

embedding a keyboard having a plurality of keys in the base, the keys being communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus;

connecting a first display to the base via a first hinge and a second hinge, the first display being communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the video controller which drives the display; and

configuring a touch-pad having a first portion parallel and adjacent to a second portion, the touch-pad configured for at least one of, (i) the first portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a first region of the first display and the second portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a second region of the first display, and (ii) the first portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on the first display and the second portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on a second display connected to the laptop computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the touch pad is embedded in the base and communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second display includes a support stand for positioning the second display.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second display further includes a conductive cable for communicatively coupling the second display to the laptop computer system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

embedding a mouse stick in the base, the mouse stick being communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus.

12. A system having extended touch-pad functionality, comprising:

a base housing a microprocessor;

a keyboard communicatively coupled via a bus to the microprocessor;

a first display for displaying information, the first display communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus;

a touch-pad having a first portion and a second portion, the touch-pad communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via the bus, the touch-pad configured for at least one of, (i) the first portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a first region of the first display and the second portion configured to control a cursor movement and placement functions on a second region of the first display, and (ii) the first portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on the first display and the second portion configured to control the cursor movement and placement functions on a second display connected via the bus to the system.