System for integrating pointing functions into computer keyboard with lateral movement of keyswitch mounting plate causing strain and control signal

• US 5,269,004 A
• Filed: 06/28/1990
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Laibinis, Joseph J., Comerford, Liam D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lawrence E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GECKIL, MEHMET B
• Application Number:
  US07/545,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/275, 341/22, 340/711, 340/709
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A device providing pointing device functions in a keyboard without requiring the keyboard operator to remove any fingertip from the keys. A computer keyboard keyswitch mounting plate is supported for horizontal displacement against a resistive force. A transducer for measuring the force exerted in the plane of the keyboard key tops is attached between the keyboard case and the keyswitch mounting plate. The direction and magnitude of the force can be measured and encoded so they may be used to emulate the signals generated by a pointing device. The operator may elect a pointing device mode by merely applying sufficient force along the plane of the surface of the key tops, thus switching from a keyboard mode to a pointing device mode, without moving the fingers from a typing position.

Claims

1. A keyboard and computer system for user entry of text and control functions comprising:

a keyboard case;

resilient mounting means connected to said keyboard case;

a keyswitch mounting plate including a plurality of keys, each of which is vertically displaceable in response to the application of a vertical force by a user, with said keyswitch mounting plate being connected to said resilient mounting means such that the application of a lateral force to any one of said plurality of keys produces a lateral movement of said keyswitch mounting plate with respect to said keyboard case;

a first sensor coupled to one of said resilient mounting means and said keyswitch mounting plate for producing a control signal in response to sensing lateral movement of said keyswitch mounting plate;

a second sensor coupled to said plurality of keys for producing a different coded keyboard signal indicative of a character or command in response to the vertical depression of each different one of said plurality of keys;

a computer coupled to said first and second sensors, which is responsive to said control signal for executing a predetermined control function, and which is responsive to each of the different coded keyboard signals for producing decoded keyboard signals; and

a display device coupled to said computer, on which characters are displayed in response to the decoding of keyboard signals by said computer, and on which other indicia is manifested in response to the execution of said predetermined control function by said computer.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein said control signal is one of a command signal and a data signal.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, wherein said command signal is a pointing command signal.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein said pointing command signal is a mouse command signal.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3, including:

means responsive to the concurrent vertical depression of any two of said plurality of keys belonging to a first predefined group of keys as a first pointing command signal and the concurrent vertical depression of any two of said plurality of keys belonging to a second predefined group of keys as a second pointing command signal.

6. A method of operating a keyboard and computing system including a keyswitch mounting plate which is resiliently mounted on a keyboard case, with said keyswitch mounting plate including a plurality of keys, each of which is vertically displaceable in response to the application of a vertical force by a user to produce keyboard signals when in a keyboard mode of operation, with lateral movement of said keyswitch mounting plate relative to said keyboard case being produced in response to the application of a lateral force to any one of said plurality of keys by the user for producing control signals when in a control mode of operation, and for providing the keyboard signals to a computer when in the keyboard mode of operation and the control signals to the computer when in the control mode of operation, said method including the steps of:

beginning operation in the keyboard mode of operation;

switching to the control mode of operation as the result of the production of said control signals in response to sensing the application of a lateral force greater than a threshold level to at least one of the keys for execution of a predetermined control function by said computer; and

returning to the keyboard mode of operation as the result of the production of said keyboard signals in response to the application of a vertical force to a predetermined one of the keys.

7. A keyboard and computer system for user entry of text and control functions comprising:

a keyboard case;

resilient mounting means connected to said keyboard case;

a keyswitch mounting plate including a plurality of keys, each of which is vertically displaceable in response to the application of a vertical force by a user, with said keyswitch mounting plate being connected to said resilient mounting means such that the application of a lateral force to any one of said plurality of keys produces a strain in said keyswitch mounting plate or said resilient mounting means;

a first sensor coupled to one of said resilient mounting means and said keyswitch mounting plate for producing a control signal in response to sensing a strain in said keyswitch mounting plate or said resilient mounting means;

a second sensor coupled to said plurality of keys for producing a different coded keyboard signal indicative of a character or command in response to the vertical depression of each different one of said plurality of keys;

a computer coupled to said first and second sensors, which is responsive to said control signal for executing a predetermined control function, and which is responsive to each of the different coded keyboard signals for producing decoded keyboard signals; and

a display device coupled to said computer, on which characters are displayed in response to the decoding of keyboard signals by said computer, and on which other indicia is manifested in response to the execution of said predetermined control function by said computer.

8. The combination claimed in claim 7, wherein said control function is a pointing function.

9. The combination claimed in claim 8, wherein said pointing function is a mouse function.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, including:

means responsive to the concurrent vertical depression of any two of said plurality of keys belonging to a first predetermined group of keys as a first mouse button command and the concurrent vertical depression of any two of said plurality of keys belonging to a second predetermined group of keys as a second mouse button command.

11. A method of operating a keyboard and computer system including a keyswitch mounting plate which is resiliently mounted on a keyboard case, with said keyswitch mounting plate including a plurality of keys, each of which is vertically displaceable in response to the application of a vertical force by a user to produce keyboard signals when in a keyboard mode of operation, with a strain being produced in said keyswitch mounting plate or said resilient mounting means in a response to the application of a lateral force to any one of said plurality of keys by the user for producing control signals when in a control mode of operation, and for providing the keyboard signals to a computer when in the keyboard mode of operation and the control signals to the computer when in the control mode of operation, said method including the steps of:

beginning operation in the keyboard mode of operation;

switching to the control mode of operation as the result of the production of said control signals in response to sensing a strain in said keyswitch mounting plate or said resilient mounting means as the result of the application of a lateral force greater than a threshold level to at least one of the keys for execution of a predetermined control function by said computer; and

returning to the keyboard mode of operation as the result of the production of said keyboard signals in response to the application of a vertical force to a predetermined one of the keys.