Notebook computer system with a separable trackball
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A notebook computer system comprising:
- a body formed with a socket;
a keyboard rotatably engaged with the body, the keyboard being rotatable between a first position that is fully engaged with the body and a second position wherein at least a portion of the keyboard is separated from the body; and
a trackball module having a locking element that engages the keyboard so that the trackball module is captured by the keyboard when the trackball is installed in the socket and the keyboard is in the first position;
wherein the trackball is removable from the socket and separable from the body and the keyboard when the keyboard is in the second position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A notebook computer system with an easily separable trackball to give the system flexibility. The system makes use of a separable keyboard to achieve the goal of installing and separating the trackball. To this end the notebook computer comprises a keyboard that is able to be at least partially separated from the system, a socket for installation of the trackball module, with the trackball module being partially captured under the keyboard when installed in the socket. A notebook computer having a socket for accommodating a trackball may alternatively be provided with a plain plate, which allows the notebook computer to work normally without the trackball.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A notebook computer system comprising:
-
a body formed with a socket; a keyboard rotatably engaged with the body, the keyboard being rotatable between a first position that is fully engaged with the body and a second position wherein at least a portion of the keyboard is separated from the body; and a trackball module having a locking element that engages the keyboard so that the trackball module is captured by the keyboard when the trackball is installed in the socket and the keyboard is in the first position; wherein the trackball is removable from the socket and separable from the body and the keyboard when the keyboard is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A notebook computer system comprising:
-
a body formed with a socket; a keyboard coupled to the body, the keyboard being movable between a first position that is fully engaged with the body and a second position wherein at least a portion of the keyboard is separated from the body; and a trackball module having a locking element that engages the keyboard so that the trackball module is captured by the keyboard when the trackball is installed in the socket and the keyboard is in the first position; wherein at least a portion of the socket extends from under the keyboard when the keyboard is in the first position, and the trackball is removable from the socket and separable from the body and the keyboard when the keyboard is in the second position; and wherein the locking element is a horizontal plate protruding out of the trackball module. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. A notebook computer system comprising:
-
a keyboard; a normally horizontal body supporting the keyboard, the body having a normally horizontal portion with an upper surface extending in a direction away from the keyboard; the normally horizontal portion being formed with a socket extending below the upper surface; a trackball module sized to fit into the socket; and a mechanism for removably mounting the trackball module in the socket; wherein the notebook computer is operable with the trackball module when the trackball module is installed in the socket; and wherein the notebook computer is operable without the trackball module when the trackball module is removed from the socket. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification