Integrated mouse and numerical keypad device

• US 5,457,480 A
• Filed: 10/03/1994
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Inc. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Nikolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/326,189
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 345/172
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A device in which functions of both a conventional mouse and a numerical data entry keypad are integrated into a single unit is disclosed. A conventional mouse ball is disposed on the bottom of the device. Pointer select buttons are disposed on a forward portion of the top of the device and numerical entry keys are disposed on a rearward portion of the top of the device. A microprocessor responsive to the ball, buttons, and keys, generates appropriate signals for input to a single I/O port in a computer. A hood is also provided which is hingedly attached to the device between the forward and rearward portions thereof such that it is rotatable between a first position in which the numerical data entry keys are rendered accessible, thereby enabling the device to function as a numerical keypad, and a second position, in which the numerical data entry keys are rendered inaccessible, thereby enabling the device to function as a conventional mouse.

Claims

1. A device for inputting graphical location data and numerical data to a computer having a graphical display, the device comprising:

a housing;

a mouse portion disposed within said housing and including a ball rollingly disposed on a bottom side of said housing, said mouse portion being operative for inputting to said computer said graphical location data for said graphical display and further including at least one pointer select button disposed on a first portion of a top side of said housing and operative for selecting graphical objects on said graphical display;

a numerical data entry portion including a plurality of keys disposed on a second portion of said top side of said housing and operative for inputting said numerical data to said computer; and

a hood rotatably connected to said housing between said first and second portions of said top side of said housing for rendering said plurality of keys inaccessible and for rendering an ergonomic shape to said device when said hood is rotated to a first position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first portion is positionally fixed relative to said second portion, and said hood is rotatable to a second position, in which said plurality of keys is rendered accessible to said user, said at least one pointer select button being accessible in either of said first or second hood positions.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for toggling operation of at least first and second ones of said plurality of keys between a first mode, in which said first and second ones of said plurality of keys are operative as numerical data entry keys, and a second mode, in which said first and second ones of said plurality of keys are operative as mouse pointer select buttons.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising means disposed on said housing for indicating whether said first and second ones of said plurality of keys are operating in said first mode or said second mode.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said indicating means comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for preventing comprises:

a microprocessor;

a memory device electrically connected to said microprocessor; and

logic instructions stored in said memory device and executable by said microprocessor.

6. The device of claim i further comprising:

means for detecting whether said hood is in a first or second position; and

means for preventing input of said numerical data to said computer when said hood is in said first position and for preventing input of said graphical location data to said computer when said hood is in said second position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said detecting means is a switch.

9. A device for inputting data to a computer having a display, the device being communicative with the computer through a single input/output (I/O) port, the device comprising:

housing means;

means for inputting graphical location data for controlling a location of an image on said display;

means, disposed on a forward portion of a top side of said housing means, for inputting selection data for selecting objects on said display;

means, disposed on a rearward portion of said top side of said housing means, for inputting numerical data, said rearward portion being positionally fixed relative to said forward portion;

means for processing said input graphical location data, selection data and numerical data and generating output signals to said computer responsive to said processing; and

a hood hingedly attached to said top side of said housing means, said hood being rotatable between a first position, in which said means for inputting numerical data is rendered inaccessible, and a second position, in which said means for inputting numerical data is rendered accessible, said means for inputting selection data being accessible in either of said first or second hood positions, said hood further being shaped for rendering an ergonomic shape to said device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said output signals are useable by said computer for controlling a location of an image presented on said display.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said hood is hingedly attached between said forward and said rearward portions.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said means for processing and generating comprises a microprocessor.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said means for inputting graphical location data comprises a mouse ball rollingly disposed on a bottom side of said housing.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein said means for inputting selection data comprises at least one mouse pointer select button.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said means for inputting numerical data comprises a keypad including a plurality of keys.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said keypad includes at least twelve keys, and wherein each of said keys represents a selected one of ten digits, a decimal point, or an enter function.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said keypad includes at least four keys, and wherein each of said four keys represents one of an addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division function.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein at least a first and a second key of said keypad are selectively operable in a first mode, in which said first and second keys function as numerical data entry keys, and a second mode, in which said first and second keys function as mouse pointer select buttons, the device further comprising means for selectively actuating said first and second keys between operation in said first mode and said second mode.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein said actuation means comprises two of said plurality of keys.

20. The device of claim 18 further comprising means for visually indicating the mode of operation of said first and second keys.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said indicating means is a light emitting diode (LED).

22. A method of inputting graphical location data and numerical data to a computer having a display, the method comprising:

integrating a mouse and a numerical keypad into a device;

electrically connecting said device to said computer;

providing at least one pointer select button and said numerical keypad on a top side of said device;

determining a position of a hood rotatably attached to said device, said hood covering only said numerical keypad and further rendering an ergonomic shape to said device when said hood is in a first position;

responsive to a determination that said hood is in said first position, causing said device to operate in a mouse mode in which said device may be used to input said graphical location data to said computer;

responsive to a determination that said hood is in a second position, causing said device to operate in a numerical keypad mode in which said device may be used to input said numerical data to said computer.