Integrated keyboard and pointing device system with automatic mode change

• US 6,107,996 A
• Filed: 11/24/1992
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Incontrol Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Straayer, David H., Franz, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US07/981,750
• Time in Patent Office: 2,828 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/711, 341/22, 341/23, 400/485, 400/489, 364/709.11, 364/709.12, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 345/163, 345/168, 345/172
• US Class Current: 345/172
• 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 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type

Abstract

A computer system employs a keyboard that includes an integrated pointing device coupled to a pointing key. The system has a typing mode of operation and a pointing mode of operation. In the pointing mode, the pointing key is used to enter pointing information, thereby obviating a discrete pointing device such as a mouse. The system may be switched between the typing mode and the pointing mode explicitly by predetermined commands. Alternatively, the system may be switched into the pointing mode implicitly by monitoring and timing keyboard events following a pointing key press.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a typing mode of operation and a pointing mode of operation, and including a keyboard having a plurality of keys that includes typing keys, one of the typing keys being also a pointing key arranged to provide analog signals for cursor control, and a display screen having a cursor, an implicit method of switching between typing mode and pointing mode, comprising the steps of:

during the typing mode of operation, monitoring the keyboard to detect a first keyboard event;

responsive to detecting a first keyboard event, testing for a pointing key press;

if the first keyboard event is not a pointing key press, processing the first keyboard event normally;

if the first keyboard event is a pointing key press, monitoring a time elapsed since the pointing key press; and

if the pointing key remains pressed and no other key is pressed within a predetermined time period, begin repositioning the cursor responsive to analog pointing signals acquired from the pointing key and change the operating mode of the entire keyboard to the pointing mode of operation, so that subsequent actuation of other keys is intercepted and interpreted according to the pointing mode, thereby changing the meaning of keys other than the pointing key based solely on holding down the pointing key.

2. In a computer system having a typing mode of operation and a pointing mode of operation, and including a keyboard having a plurality of keys that includes typing keys, one of the typing keys being also a pointing key, and a display screen having a cursor, an implicit method of switching between typing mode and pointing mode, comprising the steps of:

defining a first predetermined time interval and a second predetermined time interval longer than the first time interval;

during the typing mode of operation, immediately processing detected key presses and releases except a pointing key press;

responsive to detecting a pointing key press;

defer processing of the pointing key press; and

begin monitoring a time elapsed since the pointing key press;

if the elapsed time exceeds the first time interval and no second keyboard event has been detected;

start acquiring pointing sensor data;

start moving the cursor from its initial position responsive to the pointing sensor data; and

while moving the cursor, continuing to monitor the time elapsed since the pointing key press;

responsive to detecting a second keyboard event, if the elapsed time is less than the second predetermined time interval;

processing the pointing key press normally;

stopping the cursor; and

processing the second keyboard event normally.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

if cursor moving has started, and the elapsed time exceeds the second predetermined time interval and no second keyboard event has been detected, switching to the pointing mode of operation.

4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

if the elapsed time exceeds the first time interval and no second keyboard event has been detected, storing an initial cursor position; and

responsive to detecting a second keyboard event, if the elapsed time is less than the second predetermined time interval, restoring the cursor to the initial position and continuing operation in the typing mode.

5. In a computer system having a typing mode of operation and a pointing mode of operation, and including a keyboard having a plurality of keys that includes typing keys, one of the typing keys being also a pointing key, and a display screen having a cursor, an implicit method of switching between typing mode and pointing mode, comprising the steps of:

defining a first predetermined time interval and a second predetermined time interval longer than the first time interval;

during the typing mode of operation, immediately processing detected key presses and releases except a pointing key press;

responsive to detecting a pointing key press;

defer processing of the pointing key press; and

begin monitoring a time elapsed since the pointing key press;

if the elapsed time exceeds the first time interval and no second keyboard event has been detected;

start acquiring pointing sensor data;

start moving the cursor from its initial position responsive to the pointing sensor data; and

while moving the cursor, continuing to monitor the time elapsed since the pointing key press;

responsive to detecting a second keyboard event, if the elapsed time is less than the second predetermined time interval;

processing the pointing key press normally;

stopping the cursor; and

processing the second keyboard event normally;

selecting a third predetermined time interval longer than the second time interval, the third time interval selected for inferring a user'"'"'s intent to switch to the pointing mode; and

responsive to detecting a second keyboard event, if the elapsed time is greater than the third time interval, finally switching the system to the pointing mode of operation, whereby the system changes mode of operation without explicit instruction from a user to do so.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

responsive to detecting a second keyboard event, if the elapsed time is greater than the second time interval and less than the third time interval, determining whether the second keyboard event is a pointing key release;

if the second keyboard event is not a pointing key release, processing the second keyboard event as a pointing macro; and

if the second keyboard event is a pointing key release, switching the system to the typing mode of operation.

7. A keyboard system for operator entry of characters and control functions to a computer having a display screen with a visible cursor, said keyboard system comprising:

a keyboard having an array of vertically-displaceable keys, the array including a first key and a second key, each of the keys having a released state and pressed state;

means coupled to the first key for permitting and detecting lateral displacement of the first key to acquire directional data for repositioning the cursor on the display screen in a corresponding direction;

processing means coupled to the array for selecting one at a time of a typing mode and a pointing mode, responsive to the states of at least the first and second keys;

the processing means including means for communicating alpha-numeric character data to the computer during the typing mode of operation in response to vertical displacement of the keys in the array; and

the processing means further including means for providing mouse emulation data to the computer during the pointing mode of operation, the mouse emulation data including both the directional data for repositioning the cursor on the display screen in response to lateral displacement of the first key, and state change data responsive to actuation of the second key, such that the second key emulates a mouse button during the pointing mode of operation.

8. A keyboard system according to claim 7 wherein actuation of the second key during the pointing mode of operation effects a drag operation as the curser moves across the display screen.

9. A keyboard system according to claim 7 wherein the processor means includes timing means for determining an elapsed time between actuation of the first key and subsequent actuation of another key in the array for switching to the pointing mode, thereby effecting an implicit mode change.

10. A keyboard system according to claim 7 further comprising:

means for storing an initial cursor position when switching out of the typing mode; and

means for restoring the cursor to the initial position on the display screen when returning to the typing mode.

11. A keyboard system according to claim 7 further comprising:

integrated state data memory means for storing indications of a current operating mode, cursor position and a present state of the second key.

12. A method of acquiring both typing data and pointing data from a multi-purpose keyboard having a pointing key, the keyboard coupled through an integrated interface to a computer having a display screen that includes a visible cursor, and the integrated interface having at least three distinct modes of operation, namely a typing mode, a pointing mode and a wait-and-see mode, the method comprising the steps of:

in the typing mode of operation, immediately processing typing data from the keyboard in response to keyboard events except a pointing key press;

in response to a pointing key press, deferring processing of the pointing key press as typing data and begin monitoring a time elapsed since the pointing key press;

if the elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined time interval and no second keyboard event has been detected, entering the wait-and-see mode of operation, and subsequently determining whether or not to switch into the pointing mode of operation; and

in the pointing mode of operation, processing direction data acquired from the pointing key for repositioning the cursor on the display screen and processing keyswitch actions for emulating mouse button actions, thereby obviating a separate mouse input device.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said entering a wait-and-see mode includes:

storing an initial position of the cursor on the display screen for restoring the cursor to the initial position in the event the wait-and-see mode is concluded by resuming the typing mode of operation; and

acquiring pointing direction data from the pointing key for repositioning the cursor in the event the wait-and-see mode is concluded by switching to the pointing mode of operation.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein:

said determining step includes;

monitoring a time elapsed since the pointing key press; and

if the elapsed time exceeds a second predetermined time limit and no subsequent keyboard event has occurred, switching to the pointing mode of operation.