Computer system with keyboard and pointing device interface for managing device input codes

• US 5,898,425 A
• Filed: 02/28/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sekine, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/608,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 395/893, 395/821-894, 345/156-172, 345/160, 345/157, 341/22-29, 463/37, 463/38, 364/709.12, 340/825.31, 361/827, 361/828
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 3/023 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A connector mounted on a system board has terminals the number of which corresponds to the total sum of key matrix control signal lines and pointing stick control signal lines. The key matrix control signal lines and pointing stick control signal lines are connected together to the connector. Both a keyboard interface and a pointing stick interface can thus be achieved by the single connector, resulting in improvement in mounting efficiency, decrease in cost and simplification in assembly process.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a keyboard unit including a plurality of keys and a pointing device arranged between the keys;

a first flat cable leading out of said keyboard unit and comprising scan signal lines and return signal lines for controlling a key matrix of said keyboard unit;

a second flat cable comprised of control signal lines of the pointing device and leading out from said pointing device; and

a common connector mounted on a system board for connecting the first and second flat cables in a lateral arrangement, and having terminals arranged in a line, whose number corresponds to a total sum of the control signal lines, scan signal lines and return signal lines.