INPUT DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a display screen coupled to the housing;
a main input device operable to translate user manipulations of the main input device into control signals;
a wireless receiver in the housing;
a carrier bay defined by the housing;
an auxiliary input device sized and arranged to be carried in and attached to the carrier bay in a docked state and detached from the carrier bay in an undocked state, wherein in the undocked state, the auxiliary input device translates user manipulations of the auxiliary input device into control signals and wirelessly transmits the control signals for reception by the wireless receiver, and in the docked state, the auxiliary input device is unresponsive to user manipulations of the auxiliary input device; and
a graphics controller in the housing and operable to present a graphical user interface on the display screen in accordance with the control signals received from the main input device and the auxiliary input device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Input devices and methods of operating the same are described. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a housing, a display screen, a main input device, a wireless receiver, a carrier bay, and an auxiliary input device. The main input device translates user manipulations of the main input device into control signals. The auxiliary input device is sized and arranged to be carried in and attached to the carrier bay in a docked state and detached from the carrier bay in an undocked state. In the undocked state, the auxiliary input device translates user manipulations of the auxiliary input device into control signals and wirelessly transmits the control signals for reception by the wireless receiver. In the docked state, the auxiliary input device is unresponsive to user manipulations of the auxiliary input device. The apparatus additionally includes a graphics controller in the housing that presents a graphical user interface on the display screen in accordance with the control signals received by the wireless receiver from the main input device and the auxiliary input device.
32 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a display screen coupled to the housing;
a main input device operable to translate user manipulations of the main input device into control signals;
a wireless receiver in the housing;
a carrier bay defined by the housing;
an auxiliary input device sized and arranged to be carried in and attached to the carrier bay in a docked state and detached from the carrier bay in an undocked state, wherein in the undocked state, the auxiliary input device translates user manipulations of the auxiliary input device into control signals and wirelessly transmits the control signals for reception by the wireless receiver, and in the docked state, the auxiliary input device is unresponsive to user manipulations of the auxiliary input device; and
a graphics controller in the housing and operable to present a graphical user interface on the display screen in accordance with the control signals received from the main input device and the auxiliary input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a housing;
-
14-17. -17. (canceled)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a wireless receiver in the housing;
a carrier bay defined by the housing and comprising a docking interface;
an input device sized and arranged to be carried in and attached to the carrier bay in a docked state and detached from the carrier bay in an undocked state, wherein in the undocked state, the input device translates user manipulations of the input device into control signals and wirelessly transmits the control signals for reception by the wireless receiver, the input device comprises a docking interface with charging terminals mating with the docking interface of the carrier bay, and a capacitor electrically connected across the charging terminals of the input device and operable to store energy that supplies power to energizable components of the input device; and
a power supply charger electrically coupled to the docking interface of the carrier bay, wherein the power supply charger is operable to charge the capacitor through the docking interfaces of the carrier bay and the input device when the input device is in the docked state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
- a housing;
-
23. A machine-implemented method, comprising:
- determining a docking state of an input device with respect to a carrier bay of portable computer system;
determining existence of a predetermined risk factor for losing the input device; and
in response to a determination that the input device is in an undocked state and that the predetermined risk factor is present, generating an alarm-triggering control signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
- determining a docking state of an input device with respect to a carrier bay of portable computer system;
Specification