Portable computer with trackball mounted in display section

• US 5,208,736 A
• Filed: 05/18/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mato, Stephen Jr., Ambrose, Michael W., Bhagat, Gopal C., Crooks, Cynthia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/885,121
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 364/709.01, 341/20, 340/706, 340/709, 340/711, 273/143 B, 273/438, D14/100, D14/106, D14/114, D21/48, 375/8, 361/380, 361/390-395, 361/399
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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

Abstract

A pointing device according to the present invention includes a trackball embedded in the case of a computer display. The trackball is placed adjacent to the display and the select buttons for the trackball are located on the backside of the display case behind the trackball. The user guides the trackball with his thumb and pushes the select buttons on the backside of the case with his index and middle fingers, allowing the user to operate the pointing device with only one hand. Alternatively, the trackball is embedded in the corner of the keyboard of a desktop system, with the select buttons on the opposite side of the keyboard behind the trackball. With the keyboard standing on legs, the user'"'"'s fingers can reach the two select buttons opposite the trackball to operating the pointing device.

Claims

1. A portable computer system, comprising:

a base section; and

a display section pivotably connected to said base section, said display section including;

a housing, said housing being generally a parallelepiped and including a front face, a back face, a bottom face, two side faces and a first opening in said front face, said first opening being less than the size of said front face so that a border results, a second opening in said border and a third opening in said back face;

a display for displaying an image, said display located inside said housing at said first opening; and

a user interface device located inside said housing, said user interface device including;

a trackball projecting through said second opening; and

a first select button located near said trackball and projecting through said third opening.

2. The portable computer system of claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a recess formed in said first face border around said second opening.

3. The portable computer system of claim 2, wherein said trackball does not substantially protrude beyond the plane of said front face.

4. The portable computer system of claim 1, wherein said first select button includes an outer face and said outer face does not protrude beyond said back face of said housing.

5. The portable computer system of claim 4, wherein said first select button outer face is substantially flush with said back face of said housing.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a fourth opening in said back face, said fourth opening located near said third opening, and wherein said user interface device further includes a second select button projecting through said fourth opening.