Input keyboard touch-sensitive adjunct

• US 5,231,380 A
• Filed: 07/16/1991
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: MicroTouch Systems, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Logan, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/731,281
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/711, 340/712, 341/22, 341/23, 341/31-34, 364/708, 310/313, 400/479, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A method and apparatus to augment keyboard input to a computer: the apparatus including a sensor mounted on the keyboard which is responsive to physical contact by the user'"'"'s hand and which emits signals corresponding to changes in pressure and position on the sensor. The apparatus also includes a controller card including an analog to digital converter to convert the position and pressure information into digital form for input into the computer. The sensor is located so that the user'"'"'s thumb has access to the surface of the sensor without the need to move his or her fingers from the keyboard. A method of entering data into a computer includes sensing the pressure applied by the user'"'"'s hand on a sensor, converting the sensor signal into digital form, and entering the digital information as an input to the computer.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive input device for entry of data commands to a computer by user in conjunction with a keyboard having a spacer bar, comprising:

a flat touch sensor adapted to receive and sense physical contact by the user'"'"'s hand;

a sensor mounting device having a front and a rear end, said front end engaging the front edge of the keyboard and said rear end engaging the rear edge of the keyboard, said mounting device including a removable sensor mounting frame pivotably attached to its front end surrounding and supporting said sensor for removably mounting said sensor below but adjacent the keyboard spacer bar at an adjustable angle to the keyboard, extending outward from the keyboard such that the user may contact said sensing means with his thumb or palm without removing his hands from the keyboard, said mounting device further including a rear keyboard engagement means pivotably attached to the sensor mounting device rear end for engaging the rear edge of the keyboard to firmly hold said sensor mounting device to the keyboard;

means, responsive to said sensor, for generating an output corresponding to the position and pressure of the physical contact of the user on said sensor; and

means for passing said output to the computer.

2. The input device of claim 1 in which said means for generating an output generates signals which emulate a mouse.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a capacitive analog sensor.

4. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a piezoelectric sensor.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a surface acoustic wave sensor.

6. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes an optical sensor.

7. The input device of claim 1 including an on/off switch for disconnecting said means responsive to said sensing means for generating an output from the computer to allow the user to avoid inadvertent entry of data into the computer.

8. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensor is detachable from said sensor mounting frame.

9. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a surface adapted to allow comfortable sliding contact by the user'"'"'s hand.

10. The input device of claim 1 wherein said sensor is transparent and said frame includes a slot to allow the insertion of a template behind said sensor.

11. The input device of claim 1 further including a steady state input switch for creating an ongoing signal without the need to maintain continuous pressure on the switch and in which said means for generating is further responsive to said steady state input switch for generating an output representing said ongoing signal.

12. The input device of claim 1 wherein said means for generating an output generates signals which emulate a joystick.

13. The input device of claim 1 in which said computer is coupled to a display means, having a particular shape, and in which said sensing means comprises at least one area which is substantially similar in shape to said display means, such that a correspondence exists between every point on said display means and a corresponding point, located in the same relative position, on said sensing means.

14. The input device on claim 13 in which said means for mounting includes a frame to hold said sensing means, said sensing means are transparent and said frame includes a slot to allow the insertion of a template behind said sensing means.

15. The input device of claim 14 wherein said one are is defined by said template.

16. The device of claim 14 in which said template is divided into a plurality of functional areas, each depicting a particular function or operation or input choice, said functional areas each being disposed below a coextensive area of said surface of said sensing means.

17. The input device of claim 16 wherein an input to one of coextensive areas disposed above one of said functional areas of said sensing device will cause said means for generating an output to generate an output which represents the depicted function, operation or input choice.

18. The input device of claim 13 wherein said sensing means effectively comprises a plurality of sensing devices continuously distributed through said sensing means.

19. The input device of claim 13 wherein said correspondence exists between at least one of said sensing devices and at least one of said every point on said display means.

20. The input device of claim 19 wherein said correspondence is virtual, being created by said means for generating an output.

21. The input device of claim 19 wherein said means for generating an output will generate a continuous output in response to a continuous input.