Touchpad Input Device

• US 20110193813A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gralewski, William Adam, Massaro, Kevin L., On, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US13/125,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

An input device, notebook computer, keyed input device, and a method are provided. A touchpad housing is comprised of a touchpad depression area. The touchpad comprised of a movement input area and a button area is attached to the touchpad housing. The touchpad is configured to detect a presence of an input at a location on the touchpad. A switch is located below the button area of the touchpad. A haptic response component is also provided for generating a haptic response in response to application of a pressure from the input to the button area.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a touchpad housing comprised of a touchpad depression area;

a touchpad attached to the touchpad housing, comprised of a movement input area, and a button area, wherein the touchpad is configured to detect a presence of an input at a location on the touchpad;

a switch located below the button area of the touchpad; and

a haptic response component for generating a haptic response in response to application of a pressure from the input to the button area.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the switch and the haptic response component are the same.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the haptic response component is a spring finger.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad and the haptic response component are the same.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein regions of the touchpad comprising the movement input area and the button area are customizable.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the button area is comprised of a left button area and a right button area.

7. A computer notebook, comprising:

a chassis;

a screen attached to the chassis;

a keyboard attached to the chassis;

a touchpad housing comprised of a touchpad depression area;

a touchpad attached to the touchpad housing, comprised of a movement input area, and a button area, wherein the touchpad is configured to detect a presence of an input at a location on the touchpad;

a switch located below the button area of the touchpad; and

a haptic response component for generating a haptic response in response to application of a pressure from the input to the button area.

8. A keyed input device, comprising:

a keyed input housing;

a keyboard attached to the keyed input housing; and

a touchpad housing attached to the keyed input housing comprised of a touchpad depression area;

a touchpad attached to the touchpad housing, comprised of a movement input area, and a button area, wherein the touchpad is configured to detect a presence of an input at a location on the touchpad;

a switch located below the button area of the touchpad; and

a haptic response component for generating a haptic response in response to application of a pressure from the input to the button area.

9. A method of detecting input through a touchpad, comprising the steps of:

detecting a presence of an input;

detecting a pressure of the input; and

generating a haptic response to the pressure.

10. An input device comprising:

means for detecting a presence of an input;

means for detecting a pressure of the input; and

means for generating a haptic response to the pressure.