System and Method for Information Handling System Touchpad Enablement

• US 20110205157A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Walline, Erin K., Nerhood, Robert C. II
• Application Number:
  US12/711,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A disabled information handling system integrated pointing device is automatically enabled based upon user inputs detected at the integrated pointing device, such as inputs that indicate a user is unsuccessfully attempting to use the integrated pointing device. For example, a touchpad disposed at a portable information handling system housing in a disabled state automatically transitions to an enabled state when user inputs include rapid movements, movements from end to end or movements of increasing speed. The touchpad automatically transitions to an enabled state based upon movements interpreted as an attempt by the user to make inputs at the touchpad.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

plural components disposed in the housing, the components operable to process information;

a display interfaced with the components and operable to present the information as visual images;

an integrated pointing device interfaced with the components and operable to accept end user inputs to move a cursor displayed on the display, the integrated pointing device having an enabled state in which end user inputs move the cursor and a disabled state in which end user inputs do not move the cursor; and

an enablement module interfaced with the integrated pointing device and operable transition the integrated pointing device from a disabled state to an enabled state in response to predetermined user inputs made at the integrated pointing device when the integrated pointing device is in a disabled state.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the integrated pointing device comprises a touchpad disposed at the housing.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the predetermined user inputs comprise a predetermined number of repetitions of a movement at the touchpad.

4. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the predetermined user inputs comprise a predetermined number of changes in direction of a movement at the touchpad.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the touchpad has a surface area with opposing ends and wherein the predetermined number of changes in direction of movement comprise movement from within a predetermined distance of each of the opposing ends within a predetermined time period.

6. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the predetermined user inputs comprise a predetermined speed of movement.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the predetermined speed of movement comprises an initial first speed of movement and a following second speed of movement within a predetermined time period, the second speed of movement greater than the first speed of movement.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the integrated pointing device comprises a pointing stick.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the integrated pointing device comprises a touchscreen display.

10. A method for enablement of an information handling system pointing device, the method comprising:

disabling the pointing device so that movement at the pointing device does not move a cursor at a display of the information handling system;

detecting predetermined inputs made at the disenabled pointing device; and

automatically enabling the pointing device in response to the detecting predetermined inputs so that the pointing device moves the cursor at the display in response to movement at the pointing device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the pointing device comprises a touchpad integrated into an information handling system housing.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the predetermined inputs comprise a predetermined number of repetitions of a movement at the pointing device.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the predetermined inputs comprise a predetermined number of changes in direction of a movement at the pointing device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the pointing device has a surface area with opposing ends and wherein the predetermined number of changes in direction of movement comprise movement from within a predetermined distance of each of the opposing ends within a predetermined time period.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the predetermined inputs comprise a predetermined speed of movement.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined speed of movement comprises an initial first speed of movement and a following second speed of movement within a predetermined time period, the second speed of movement greater than the first speed of movement.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the pointing device comprises a pointing stick.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the pointing device comprises a touchscreen display.

19. A system for automatically enabling a disabled pointing device, the system comprising:

a surface operable to translate user touches at the surface into electrical signals;

a processor interfaced with the surface and operable apply the electrical signals to present information at a display;

a disable module interfaced with the processor and operable to selectively disable presenting of information at the display in response to user touches; and

an enablement module interfaced with processor and operable to detect predetermined user inputs made at the surface when the disable module has disabled presenting of information at the display in response to user touches, and the enablement module further operable to enable presenting information in response to the predetermined user inputs.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the surface comprises a touchpad disposed in a housing of a portable information handling system.