Method for providing buttons for use with multiple pointing devices on a laptop computer
First Claim
1. A method for configuring data input devices in a portable computer, the method comprising:
- fixedly mounting a rectangular data input module into a rectangular mounting cavity in a housing of the portable computer in a first orientation so that a button on the rectangular input module can be used with a first pointing device located on the housing of the portable computer;
removing the rectangular data input module from the housing;
rotating the rectangular data input module 180 degrees;
fixedly mounting the rectangular data input module into the rectangular mounting cavity in the housing in a second orientation so that the button on the rectangular input module can be used with a second pointing device located on the rectangular data input module; and
inputting commands manually into the data input module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a portable computing device comprising a housing including a keyboard. The embodiment also includes a first pointing device coupled to the housing, as well as a second pointing device coupled to the housing between the keyboard and a first edge of the housing. The embodiment additionally includes a plurality of buttons disposed on the housing so that at least one button is located between the first pointing device and the second pointing device, and at least one button is located between the glide point and the first edge of the housing. In another embodiment, the plurality of buttons is movably disposed on the housing so that when buttons are located in a first position, at least one button is located between the first pointing device and the second pointing device, and when buttons are located in a second position, at least one button is located between the second pointing device and the first edge of the housing. The term pointing devices refers to any manually operated input device that can be used to move a cursor around a computer display, such as a mouse, a track ball, a pointing stick or a glide point.
25 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for configuring data input devices in a portable computer, the method comprising:
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fixedly mounting a rectangular data input module into a rectangular mounting cavity in a housing of the portable computer in a first orientation so that a button on the rectangular input module can be used with a first pointing device located on the housing of the portable computer; removing the rectangular data input module from the housing; rotating the rectangular data input module 180 degrees; fixedly mounting the rectangular data input module into the rectangular mounting cavity in the housing in a second orientation so that the button on the rectangular input module can be used with a second pointing device located on the rectangular data input module; and inputting commands manually into the data input module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification