Pointing device for retrofitting onto the keyboard of an existing computer system

• US 5,579,033 A
• Filed: 05/20/1992
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Selker, Edwin J., Rutledge, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US07/886,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-161
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• 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 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

A pre-connected pointing device assembly retrofitable onto the keyboard of an existing computer system includes an analog input unit and a digital input unit physically and electrically interconnected to a data processing unit by flexible bands. The units and flexible bands are adhesively secured to the keyboard. The analog input unit is placed between two of the keys of the keyboard and the digital input unit is placed at the edge of the keypad area, preferably below the space bar. The data processing unit can be configured to fit in a recess at the rear of the keyboard.

Claims

1. A pre-connected computer pointing device assembly for retrofitting onto a keyboard of an existing computer system comprising:

analog input means for sensing tactile input and producing a first signal representative thereof, said analog input means being adapted for mounting between adjacent keys of the keyboard, said analog input means comprising an isometric pointing stick;

digital input means for producing a second signal, said digital input means comprising a low profile keypad adapted to be mounted on a peripheral area of the keyboard;

data processing means adapted to be mounted to a rear surface of the keyboard for processing said first and second signals;

flexible band means for physically and electrically connecting the analog input means and the digital input means to the data processing means, said flexible band means comprising a first strip physically connecting the analog input means to the digital input means and configured to fit between keys of the keyboard, and a second strip physically connecting the digital input means to the data processing means and adapted to traverse an underside of the keyboard; and

means for affixing the analog input means, the digital input means, the data processing means and the flexible band means onto the keyboard of the existing computer system such that they do not interfere with the normal operation of the keyboard, said means for affixing comprising a pre-coating of adhesive on a keyboard abutting surface of the analog input means, digital input means, data processing means and flexible band means.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first strip includes a jog.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a protective sheet having the same general contours as the second strip and a pre-coated adhesive on one side thereof, whereby the protective sheet can be adhesively secured upon the second strip.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein an exposed surface of the protective sheet has the same color as the keyboard.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the flexible band means is detachably connected to the data processing means.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second strip is detachably connected to the data processing means.

7. A pre-connected computer pointing device assembly for retrofitting onto a keyboard of an existing computer system comprising:

analog input means for sensing tactile input and producing a first signal representative thereof, said analog input means comprising an isometric pointing stick adapted for mounting between adjacent keys of the keyboard;

digital input means for producing a second signal, said digital input means comprising a low profile keypad adapted to be mounted on a peripheral area of the keyboard;

data processing means for processing said first and second signals, said data processing means being adapted to be mounted to a rear surface of the keyboard, wherein said data processing means further comprises a port receiving signals from an auxiliary pointing device and an outlet for transmitting signals to a central processing unit;

flexible band means for physically and electrically connecting the analog input means and the digital input means to the data processing means, said flexible band means comprising a first strip configured to fit between keys of the keyboard and a second strip adapted to traverse an underside of the keyboard; and

means for affixing the analog input means, the digital input means, the data processing means and the flexible band means onto the keyboard of the existing computer system such that they do not interfere with the normal operation of the keyboard, said means for affixing comprising adhesive.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a band of flexible material attached to the top of the data processing means, said band being adapted to be adhesively secured to the top of the keyboard.

9. A pre-connected computer pointing device assembly for retrofitting onto a keyboard of an existing computer system comprising:

analog input means for sensing tactile input and producing a first signal representative thereof, said analog input means comprising an isometric pointing stick adapted for mounting between adjacent keys of the keyboard;

digital input means for producing a second signal, said digital input means comprising a low profile keypad adapted to be mounted on a peripheral area of the keyboard;

data processing means for processing said first and second signals, said data processing means being adapted to be mounted to a rear surface of the keyboard;

flexible band means for physically and electrically connecting the analog input means and the digital input means to the data processing means, said flexible band means comprising a first strip configured to fit between keys of the keyboard and a second strip adapted to traverse an underside of the keyboard;

means for affixing the analog input means, the digital input means, the data processing means and the flexible band means onto the keyboard of the existing computer system such that they do not interfere with the normal operation of the keyboard, said means for affixing comprising adhesive;

a data processing housing sized to fit flushly into a keyboard outlet recess of the keyboard;

the data processing housing having a connector positioned to connect into a keyboard outlet of the keyboard;

an outlet at the rear of the data processing housing to output both a signal of the data processing means and a signal of the keyboard;

means to transmit the signal of the keyboard to a keyboard port of a CPU; and

means to transmit the signal of the data processing means to an auxiliary port of the CPU.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the means to transmit the signal of the keyboard to the keyboard port of the CPU and the means to transmit the signal of the data processing means to the auxiliary port of the CPU use a common cable;

said cable having a first receptor to plug into the data processing housing, a second receptor to plug into the keyboard port of the CPU, and a third receptor to plug into the auxiliary port of the CPU.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the cable is permanently connected to the data processing housing.

12. A kit for retrofitting a pointing device onto a keyboard of an existing computer system comprising:

a pre-connected pointing device assembly comprising an analog input unit for sensing tactile input and producing a first signal representative thereof, a digital input unit comprising a low profile key pad adapted to be mounted on a peripheral area of the keyboard for producing a second signal, and a data processing unit adapted to be mounted to a rear surface of the keyboard for processing said first and second signals, all of said units being physically interconnected by a thin, flexible band of material comprising a first strip configured to fit between keys of the keyboard and a second strip adapted to traverse an underside of the keyboard, and wherein the digital input unit is electrically connected via the flexible band of material to the data processing unit and the analog input unit is electrically connected via the flexible band of material to the data processing unit, and

wherein the pointing device assembly is sized and configured such that when installed on the keyboard, the analog input unit fits between keys of the keyboard without restricting normal keyboarding activities, the digital input unit is positioned in a peripheral area of the keyboard, the data processing unit is located at the rear of the keyboard, and the band of flexible material runs over a base beneath the keys of the keyboard, and further comprising means for affixing the so positioned analog input unit, digital input unit, data processing unit and band of flexible material onto the keyboard, said means for affixing comprising a pre-coating of adhesive on a keyboard abutting surface of the analog input unit, digital input unit, data processing unit and the flexible band;

means for interfacing the data processing unit to the computer system;

a data processing housing sized to fit flushly into a keyboard outlet recess of the keyboard;

the data processing housing having a connector positioned to connect into a keyboard outlet of the keyboard;

an outlet at the rear of the data processing housing to output both a signal of the data processing unit and a signal of the keyboard;

means to transmit the signal of the keyboard to a keyboard port of a CPU; and

means to transmit the signal of the data processing unit to an auxiliary port of the CPU.

13. The kit of claim 12 further comprising one or more replacement key caps to replace key caps on the keyboard, said replacement key caps having appropriate modifications to accommodate the presence of the analog input unit.

14. The kit of claim 13 further comprising an instrument to remove existing key caps on a computer keyboard.

15. The kit of claim 12 wherein the flexible band of material is detachably connected to the data processing unit.

16. The kit of claim 15 wherein the analog input unit, the digital input unit and the flexible band of material comprise a pre-connected input unit separable from the data processing unit.

17. A computer pointing device assembly for retrofitting to a keyboard of an existing computer system comprising:

analog input means for sensing tactile input and producing a first signal representative thereof;

digital input means for producing a second signal;

data processing means for processing said first and second signals;

means for electrically connecting the analog input means and the digital input means to the data processing means;

means for physically attaching the analog input means and the digital input means onto a keyboard of an existing computer system; and

means for interfacing the data processing means to a CPU of the computer system; and

wherein the data processing means further comprises;

a data processing housing sized to fit flushly into a keyboard outlet recess of the keyboard,

the data processing housing having a connector positioned to connect into a keyboard outlet of the keyboard,

an outlet at the rear of the data processing housing to output both a signal of the data processing means and a signal of the keyboard,

means to transmit the signal of the keyboard to a keyboard port on the CPU, and

means to transmit the signal of the data processing means to an auxiliary port in the CPU.