Detachable convertible mouse-trackball pointing device for use with a computer
First Claim
1. A convertible mouse-trackball pointing device for use with a computer, comprising:
- a device housing having at least spaced-apart first and second surfaces, said first surfacing defining a circular opening;
a ball, rotatably mounted within said housing such that a portion of said ball protrudes through said circular opening;
means, disposed within said device housing, for biasedly urging said ball toward said circular opening;
positioning sensing components, mounted within said housing as to be frictionally rotated by rotation of said ball about either of two orthogonal axes;
process circuitry, disposed within said device housing, coupled to said sensing components for outputting electrical signals, coupleable to a host computer, containing position coordinate information representing rotation of said ball;
at least a first user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said first surface of said housing;
at least a second user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said second surface of said housing;
sense switch means, coupled to said housing and to said at least first user-operable switch and to said at least second user-operable switch, for detecting which of said first and second surfaces is oriented uppermost and for decoupling a chosen one of said at least first user-operable switch and said at least second user-operable switch from said process circuitry as a function of orientation of said housing;
wherein when said first surface is oriented uppermost, said device is useable as a trackball, and said at least second user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry; and
wherein when said second surface is oriented uppermost, said device is usable as a mouse, and said at least first user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laptop computer includes a cavity into which a mouse/trackball pointer unit may be releasably mounted. The pointer unit is electrically coupled to the laptop computer by a retractable wire or by infrared or radio frequency wireless techniques, and is used as a trackball when disposed within the keyboard cavity. User-operable switches are accessible from the trackball surface of the unit. However, when work space permits, the pointer unit may be removed from the laptop cavity, inverted and used as a mouse. Additional user-operable switches are also accessible from the mouse upper-surface of the pointer unit. The pointer unit housing has a single opening through which the rotatable ball protrudes in each mode. A sense switch automatically ascertains which mode is to be used from the relative orientation of the pointer unit housing. In mouse mode, a sense switch decouples the trackball surface accessible user-operable switches to prevent their inadvertently signaling as the pointer unit is moved about. A pressure cap mechanism urges the trackball toward an opening in the trackball surface of the unit. A differential urging force may be applied to the trackball depending upon whether mouse mode or trackball mode operation is presently being used.
108 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A convertible mouse-trackball pointing device for use with a computer, comprising:
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a device housing having at least spaced-apart first and second surfaces, said first surfacing defining a circular opening; a ball, rotatably mounted within said housing such that a portion of said ball protrudes through said circular opening; means, disposed within said device housing, for biasedly urging said ball toward said circular opening; positioning sensing components, mounted within said housing as to be frictionally rotated by rotation of said ball about either of two orthogonal axes; process circuitry, disposed within said device housing, coupled to said sensing components for outputting electrical signals, coupleable to a host computer, containing position coordinate information representing rotation of said ball; at least a first user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said first surface of said housing; at least a second user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said second surface of said housing; sense switch means, coupled to said housing and to said at least first user-operable switch and to said at least second user-operable switch, for detecting which of said first and second surfaces is oriented uppermost and for decoupling a chosen one of said at least first user-operable switch and said at least second user-operable switch from said process circuitry as a function of orientation of said housing; wherein when said first surface is oriented uppermost, said device is useable as a trackball, and said at least second user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry; and wherein when said second surface is oriented uppermost, said device is usable as a mouse, and said at least first user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. For use with a laptop computer that includes a keyboard, that may be stationary at all times relative to the laptop computer, defining a cavity accessible from an upper surface, a convertible mouse-trackball pointing device, comprising:
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a device housing having at least spaced-apart first and second surfaces, said first surfacing defining a circular opening, said device sized to fit within said cavity; retaining means, attached to said housing, for releasably retaining said device within said cavity of said keyboard; a ball, rotatably mounted within said housing such that a portion of said ball protrudes through said circular opening; positioning sensing components, mounted within said housing as to be frictionally rotated by rotation of said ball about either of two orthogonal axes; process circuitry, disposed within said device housing, coupled to said sensing components for outputting electrical signals, coupleable to a host computer, containing position coordinate information representing rotation of said ball; means for coupling said information representing rotation of said ball from said device to said computer; at least a first user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said first surface of said housing; at least a second user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said second surface of said housing; and sense switch means, coupled to said housing and to said at least first user-operable switch and to said at least second user-operable switch, for detecting which of said first and second surfaces is oriented uppermost and for decoupling a chosen one of said at least first user-operable switch and said at least second user-operable switch from said process circuitry as a function of orientation of said housing; wherein when said first surface is oriented uppermost, said device is useable as a trackball even when said device is retained within said cavity, and said at least second user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry; and wherein when said second surface is oriented uppermost, said device is usable as a mouse, and said at least first user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A laptop computer with a detachable convertible mouse-trackball pointing device, comprising:
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a laptop computer whose keyboard may be stationary at all times relative to the laptop computer and whose keyboard area defines a cavity accessible from an upper surface; a convertible mouse-trackball pointing device, sized to fit removably within said cavity, said device comprising; a device housing having at least spaced-apart first and second surfaces, said first surfacing defining a circular opening, said device sized to fit within said cavity; retaining means, attached to said housing, for releasably retaining said device within said cavity of said keyboard; a ball, rotatably mounted within said housing such that a portion of said ball protrudes through said circular opening; positioning sensing components, mounted within said housing as to be frictionally rotated by rotation of said ball about either of two orthogonal axes; process circuitry, disposed within said device housing, coupled to said sensing components for outputting electrical signals, coupleable to a host computer, containing position coordinate information representing rotation of said ball; means for coupling said information representing rotation of said ball from said device to said computer; at least a first user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said first surface of said housing; at least a second user-operable switch, coupled to said process circuitry and operable from said second surface of said housing; and sense switch means, coupled to said housing and to said at least first user-operable switch and to said at least second user-operable switch, for detecting which of said first and second surfaces is oriented uppermost and for decoupling a chosen one of said at least first user-operable switch and said at least second user-operable switch from said process circuitry as a function of orientation of said housing; wherein when said first surface is oriented uppermost, said device is useable as a trackball even when said device is retained within said cavity, and said at least second user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry; and wherein when said second surface is oriented uppermost, said device is usable as a mouse, and said at least first user-operable switch is decoupled from said process circuitry.
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Specification