Computer keyboard with switchable typing/cursor control modes

• US 5,864,334 A
• Filed: 06/27/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sellers, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AWAD, AMR A
• Application Number:
  US08/884,181
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/168, 345/156, 345/157, 345/145, 345/158, 345/172, 200/311, 200/312, 200/314, 382/42, 361/680, 364/188, 400/472
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

The keyboard portion of a computer has a small toggle switch structure positioned among its keys and reachable by a user while his hands are in the home row typing position. The switch structure is used to selectively switch the computer between typing and cursor control modes. When the computer is switched to its cursor control mode by depressing a stick-like activation portion of the switch structure, a small video camera mounted above the keyboard monitors an observation zone above the keyboard. A cursor control system in which the camera is incorporated detects the presence of the user'"'"'s hand in a first predetermined configuration within the observation zone, tracks the hand'"'"'s cursor control movement through the zone, and correspondingly moves the cursor on the computer'"'"'s display screen. To carry out a cursor "pick" function in conjunction with the repositioned cursor, the user reshapes his hand to a second predetermined configuration. The system detects the second hand configuration and responsively generates an appropriate cursor pick signal. When the user desires to return the computer to its typing mode he either depresses the activation portion of the toggle switch structure or moves his control hand out of the observation zone, moves the hand back into the zone, and presses any of the keys. The video controlled cursor positioning system is representatively illustrated in both a portable and desktop computer embodiment.

Claims

1. Computer apparatus comprising:

a keyboard having a series of manually depressible keys disposed on a top side thereof;

an observation system operable to monitor a three dimensional observation zone extending along said top side of said keyboard;

control circuitry associated with said observation system and having a typing mode and a cursor control mode, said control circuitry, when in said cursor control mode, being operative in response to detection by said observation system of a control movement of a predetermined object through said observation zone to create a control signal useable to move a cursor on a display screen in a manner corresponding to the detected control movement; and

a manual switch structure associated with said keyboard and operable to selectively switch said control circuitry between said typing and cursor control modes thereof,

said control circuitry being further operative to switch from said cursor control mode to said typing mode in response to the sequential detection by said observation system of a withdrawal of said predetermined object from said observation zone, the re-entry of said predetermined object into said observation zone, and the depression of one of said keys.

2. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said keyboard is a portable computer keyboard.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said keyboard is a desktop computer system keyboard.

4. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined object is a hand of a user of said computer apparatus.

5. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said observation system includes a video camera operative to monitor said observation zone.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manual switch structure is positioned within said observation zone.

7. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said keyboard has a home row of keys, and

said manual switch structure is reachable and operable by a user of said computer apparatus while the user'"'"'s fingers generally remain on said home row of keys.

8. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manual switch structure has a depressible actuation portion projecting upwardly between a plurality of said keys on said keyboard.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manual switch structure has an actuation portion which may be pressed and released to activate one of said typing and cursor control modes, and then pressed and released again to activate the other of said typing and cursor control modes.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manual switch structure includes:

a manually engageable actuation portion, and

visual indicia means for providing said actuation portion with a first appearance in response to activation of said typing mode, and a second, different appearance in response to activation of said cursor control mode.

11. The computer apparatus of claim 10 wherein said visual indicia means are operative to provide said actuation portion with a first coloration in response to activation of said typing mode, and a second coloration in response to activation of said cursor control mode.

12. The computer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said object is selectively changeable to a plurality of different configurations, and

said control circuitry is further operative to differentiate between said different configurations of said object within said observation zone and alter said control signal in different manners correlated to each configuration.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control circuitry is operative to alter said control signal in a manner using said cursor to select an area of said screen in response to the presence of said object in a pick configuration thereof in said observation zone.

14. Computer apparatus comprising:

a keyboard having a series of manually depressible keys disposed on a top side thereof, said keys having a home typing row;

a screen upon which a movable cursor may be displayed;

an observation system operable to monitor a three dimensional observation zone extending along said top side of said keyboard;

control circuitry associated with said observation system and having a typing mode and a cursor control mode, said control circuitry, when in said cursor control mode, being operative in response to detection by said observation system of a control movement of a hand of a user through said observation zone to generate a control signal and use said control signal to move said cursor on said screen in a manner corresponding to the detected control movement; and

a manual switch structure associated with said keyboard and operable to selectively switch said control circuitry between said typing and cursor control modes thereof,

said control circuitry being further operative to switch from said cursor control mode to said typing mode in response to the sequential detection by said observation system of a withdrawal of the user'"'"'s hand from said observation zone, the re-entry of the user'"'"'s hand into said observation zone, and the depression of one of said keys.

15. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said observation system includes a video camera operative to monitor said observation zone.

16. The computer apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

said computer apparatus is a portable computer having a base housing on which said keyboard is carried, and a lid housing, on which said screen is carried, said lid housing being supported on said base housing for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions, and

said video camera is carried by said lid housing and operable to monitor said observation zone when said lid housing is in said open position thereof.

17. The computer apparatus of claim 15 wherein said keyboard is a desktop computer system keyboard.

18. The computer apparatus of claim 17 wherein said video camera is supported on said keyboard in an elevated position relative thereto.

19. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said control circuitry is further operative to differentiate between different configurations of the user'"'"'s hand within said observation zone and alter said control signal in different manners correlated to each configuration.

20. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said control circuitry is operative to alter said control signal in a manner using said cursor to select an area of said screen in response to the presence of the user'"'"'s hand in a pick configuration in said observation zone.

21. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said manual switch structure is reachable and operable by a user of said computer apparatus while the user'"'"'s fingers generally remain on said home row of keys.

22. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said manual switch structure has a depressible actuation portion projecting upwardly between a plurality of said keys on said keyboard.

23. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said manual switch structure has an actuation portion which may be pressed and released to activate one of said typing and cursor control modes, and then pressed and released again to activate the other of said typing and cursor control modes.

24. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said manual switch structure includes:

a manually engageable actuation portion, and

visual indicia means for providing said actuation portion with a first appearance in response to activation of said typing mode, and a second, different appearance in response to activation of said cursor control mode.

25. The computer apparatus of claim 24 wherein said visual indicia means are operative to provide said actuation portion with a first coloration in response to activation of said typing mode, and a second coloration in response to activation of said cursor control mode.

26. Computer apparatus comprising:

a keyboard having a series of manually depressible keys disposed on a top side thereof, and a zone extending along said top side and into which a user'"'"'s hand may be placed to operate said keys; and

a control system operative to permit said keyboard to be switched between (1) a typing mode, and (2) a cursor control mode in which movement of the user'"'"'s hand through said zone is operative to create a control signal useable to move a cursor on a display screen in a manner corresponding to such movement of the user'"'"'s hand,

said control system functioning to switch said keyboard from said cursor control mode to said typing mode in response to the sequential (1) movement of the user'"'"'s hand out of said zone, (2) movement of the user'"'"'s hand back into said zone, and (3) the depression of one of said keys.

27. The computer apparatus of claim 26 wherein said keyboard is a portable computer keyboard.

28. The computer apparatus of claim 26 wherein said keyboard is a desktop computer keyboard.

29. The computer apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a display screen operatively connected to said keyboard.