Computer with pointing device mapped into keyboard

• US 5,485,614 A
• Filed: 07/21/1994
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kocis, Thomas J., Chidester, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/278,690
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/375, 395/500, 395/800, 361/680, 345/145, 345/157, 345/163, 345/168
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A small computer architecture in which the CPU can receive multiple kinds of interrupt signals, including one kind which is assigned to indicate the occurrence of a keystroke input and another kind which is assigned to indicate the occurrence of a pointing device input. However, the computer does not include any pointing device as such. Instead, the keyboard microprocessor (i.e. a microprocessor other than the CPU) monitors user keystrokes to the computer'"'"'s keyboard, and: in response to simple keystrokes, or keystroke combinations which include one of the basic chording keys, the keyboard microprocessor sends a keystroke interrupt to the CPU; and in response to keystroke combinations which include an additional chording key, the keyboard microprocessor sends a pointing-device interrupt to the CPU, and provides a data output corresponding to an emulated pointing-device movement.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one central processing unit (CPU) having a plurality of inputs, said CPU being configured to recognize a first combination of input signals as a keystroke interrupt and to recognize a second combination of input signals as a pointing-device interrupt;

a keyboard, having an array of binary keys including a special function key and a plurality of pointer keys; and

processor means, operatively connecting said keyboard to said CPU, to detect keystrokes of said keyboard and to drive said inputs of said CPU, said processor means enabling said keyboard to operate in a keyboard mode and in a pointing-device mode in which said pointer keys are used to enter pointing information, said keyboard normally operating in said keyboard mode and being actuated to said pointing-device mode responsive to actuation of said special function key, said processor means being configured and programmed such that in response to actuation of any key or combination of keys thereof while said keyboard is in said keyboard mode, said processor means drives said first combination of input signals to said CPU, and in response to actuation of one or more of said binary keys or one or more pointer keys while said keyboard is in said pointing-device mode, said processor means drives said second combination of input signals to said CPU, wherein said one or more of said binary keys emulates one or more buttons of a pointing device and said pointing keys emulate directional movement of a pointing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein no joystick, mouse, or trackball is attached to said system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said system does not include any pointing device other than said keys of said keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further includes a pointing device input connector which is operatively connected to provide input signals to said processor means, and wherein said processor means provides said second combination of input signals to said CPU in response to any input signals which may be received from a pointing device through said pointing device input connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said keyboard is configured such that all of said binary keys are readily accessible from a standard touch-typing hand position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein after a predetermined first sequence of keystrokes has occurred and until a predetermined second sequence of keystrokes has occurred, said processor means drives said second combination of input signals to said CPU, in response to actuation of one or more pointer keys without simultaneous actuation of said special function key.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pointer keys of said keyboard include at least four arrow keys.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising nonvolatile memory which is connected to an address which is called by said CPU whenever said CPU emerges from reset, said nonvolatile memory containing bootstrap software and also containing basic system software which causes said CPU to recognize said first combination of signal inputs as a keystroke interrupt and to recognize said second combination of signal inputs as a pointing-device interrupt.

9. A computer system with an integrated typing and pointing capability, comprising:

at least one central processing unit (CPU) having a plurality of inputs, said CPU being configured to recognize a first combination of input signals as a keystroke input and to recognize a second combination of input signals as a pointing-device input;

a keyboard, having an array of binary keys including a special function key and a plurality of pointer keys, said keyboard normally operating in a keyboard mode and operating in a pointing-device mode responsive to actuation of said special function key; and

processor means, operatively connecting said keyboard to said CPU, to detect keystrokes on said keyboard and to drive said inputs of said CPU, said processor means being configured and programmed such that in response to actuation of any key or combination of keys thereof while said keyboard is in said keyboard mode, said processor means drives said first combination of input signals to said CPU, and in response to actuation of one or more of said binary keys or at least one of said pointer keys while said keyboard is in said pointing-device mode, said processor means drives said second combination of input signals to said CPU, wherein said one or more of said binary keys emulates a button of a pointing device and said pointing keys emulate directional movement of a pointing device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein no joystick, mouse, or trackball is attached to said system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said system does not include any pointing device other than said keys of said keyboard.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said system further includes a pointing device input connector which is operatively connected to provide input signals to said processor means, and wherein said processor means provides said second combination of input signals to said CPU in response to any signals which may be received from a pointing device through said pointing device input connector.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said keyboard is configured such that all of said binary keys are readily accessible from a standard touch-typing hand position.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein after a predetermined first set of keystroke inputs has occurred and until a predetermined second set of keystroke inputs has occurred, said processor means drives said second combination of signal input lines, in response to actuation of one or more of said pointer keys without simultaneous actuation of said special function key.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of pointer keys of said keyboard include at least four arrow keys.

16. A method of operating a computer system comprising a central processing unit (CPU) having a plurality of inputs and configured to recognize a first combination of input signals as a keyboard interrupt and a second combination of input signals as a pointing-device interrupt, a keyboard having an array of binary keys including a special function key and a plurality of pointer keys, and a processor coupled between said CPU and said keyboard for detecting keystrokes on said keyboard and driving said inputs of said CPU, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting keystrokes on said keyboard;

responsive to actuation of said special function key, causing said keyboard to operate in a pointing device mode in which pointing information may be entered;

otherwise causing said keyboard to operate in a keyboard mode;

responsive to actuation of any of said binary keys while said keyboard is operating in said keyboard mode, driving said first combination of input signals to said CPU; and

responsive to actuation of said binary keys while said keyboard is operating in said pointing-device mode, driving said second combination of signals to said CPU, wherein said second combination of signals emulates a button of a pointing device and directional movement of a pointing device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of, responsive to a first predetermined sequence of keystrokes being entered via said keyboard, driving said second combination of input signals to said CPU until a second predetermined sequence of keystroke is entered via said keyboard.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) configured to recognize a plurality of input types, including keyboard input and pointing-device input;

a keyboard having an array of binary keys including a plurality of pointing keys, said keyboard operating in keyboard mode or pointing-device mode; and

a processor operatively connecting said keyboard to said CPU, whereby if said keyboard is operating in said keyboard mode, said processor drives keyboard input signals to said CPU, and if said keyboard is operating in said pointing-device mode, said processor drives pointing-device input signals to said CPU, whereby when said keyboard is in pointing-device mode, at least one of said binary keys emulates a button of a pointing device and a plurality of said pointing keys emulate directional movement of a pointing device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said keyboard includes a special function key, said keyboard operating in pointing-device mode after actuation of said special function key and one or more of said pointer keys.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein after actuation of a first sequence of keystrokes said keyboard operates in said pointing-device mode until actuation of a second sequence of keystrokes.