Pointing device provided with two types of input means for a computer system

• US 6,219,037 B1
• Filed: 10/02/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kwan-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESPERANCE, JEAN E
• Application Number:
  US09/165,359
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 345/157, 345/156, 345/158, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/167
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A pointing device mounted in a portable computer having a system unit for data processing, wherein the pointing device comprises a housing detachably attached to the portable computer, and a first and second input means formed integrally with the housing, wherein the first input means is used for data input by making wireless data communication with the system unit when the housing is detached from the portable computer, and the second input means is directly connected with the system unit through a cable for data input when the housing is attached directly to the portable computer. Preferably, the housing may be detachably mounted in a seat provided in the system unit of the portable computer. The first and second input means are respectively a ball type mouse and a touch pad. Thus, the pointing device may be selectively used as a ball type mouse when detached from the system unit or as a touch pad when attached to the system unit. Used as the ball type mouse, the pointing device transfers the pointing data to the system unit by means of a radio transmitter. Used as the touch pad, the pointing device transfers the pointing data to the system unit by means of cable connection.

Claims

1. A pointing apparatus for use with a computer, comprising:

an apparatus housing being removably attached to a host computer;

a first input unit being formed integrally with said apparatus housing and generating first pointing data to be conveyed to said host computer via wireless communication when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer;

a second input unit being formed integrally with said apparatus housing and generating second pointing data to be conveyed to said host computer via an electrical connector when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer; and

a switching unit outputting a selection signal when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer, and not outputting said selection signal when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said host computer corresponds to a portable computer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of input keys being mounted to said apparatus housing and inputting key data to said apparatus to be conveyed to said host computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said key data are conveyed to said host computer via said wireless communication when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer and said key data are conveyed to said host computer via said electrical connector when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, said apparatus housing having first and second spaced-apart surfaces, said first pointing data corresponding to position coordinate information, and said second pointing data corresponding to said position coordinate information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said plurality of input keys are mounted to said second surface of said apparatus housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus housing having first and second spaced-apart surfaces, said first pointing data corresponding to position coordinate information, and said second pointing data corresponding to said position coordinate information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first input unit further comprises:

a ball rotatably mounted at said first surface of said apparatus housing; and

a first data generator unit performing said generating of said first pointing data corresponding to a rotation of said ball.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second input unit further comprises:

a touchpad unit detecting physical contact with said touchpad unit; and

a second data generator performing said generating of said second pointing data corresponding to said physical contact detected by said touchpad unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a control unit receiving said selection signal from said switching unit, and controlling said first pointing data and said second pointing data in accordance with said selection signal, said second pointing data being transmitted as an electrical signal to said host computer via said electrical connector when said selection signal is received, and said first pointing data being transmitted as a wireless signal to said host computer via said wireless communication when said selection signal is not received;

a radio transmitter unit transmitting said first pointing data as said wireless signal to said host computer;

said electrical connector transmitting said second pointing data as said electrical signal to said host computer; and

a battery supplying power to said apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electrical connector corresponds to an electrical cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus further comprises a selection unit receiving said first and second pointing data and said selection signal, and conveying said first and second pointing data to said control unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said selection unit further comprises:

first and a second buffer receiving said first pointing data generated by said first input unit, outputting said first pointing data when said selection signal is not received, and not outputting said first pointing data when said selection signal is received; and

a third and a fourth buffer receiving said second pointing data generated by said second input unit, outputting said second pointing data when said selection signal is received, and not outputting said second pointing data when said selection signal is not received.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth buffers correspond to three-phase buffers.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electrical connector further comprises a plurality of pins transmitting said second pointing data from said apparatus to said host computer and a plurality of power pins receiving power from said host computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said battery receives power from said host computer when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said battery is able to receive power from an external power supply unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said controlling of said first and second pointing data performed by said control unit further comprises the steps of:

determining when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer in accordance with said selection signal;

establishing an electrical cable transmission channel transmitting said second pointing data of said second input unit via said electrical connector when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer;

establishing a wireless transmission channel transmitting said first pointing data of said first input unit via said radio transmitter when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer;

when said electrical cable transmission channel is established, determining when said second pointing data are generated;

when said electrical cable transmission channel is established and said second pointing data are generated, transmitting said second pointing data;

when said wireless transmission channel is established, determining when said first pointing data are generated; and

when said wireless transmission channel is established and said first pointing data are generated, transmitting said first pointing data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first input unit further comprises:

a ball rotatably mounted at said first surface of said apparatus housing; and

a first data generator unit performing said generating of said first pointing data corresponding to a rotation of said ball.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said second input unit further comprises:

a touchpad unit detecting physical contact with said touchpad unit; and

a second data generator performing said generating of said second pointing data corresponding to said physical contact detected by said touchpad unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said plurality of input keys can be utilized to input said key data when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer, and said plurality of input keys can be utilized to input said key data when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said key data are conveyed to said host computer via said wireless communication when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer and said key data are conveyed to said host computer via said electrical connector when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer.

18. A pointing apparatus for use with a host computer, comprising:

an apparatus housing being removably attached to a host computer and having first and second spaced-apart surfaces;

a plurality of input keys being mounted to said apparatus housing and inputting key data to said apparatus to be conveyed to said host computer;

a first input unit being formed integrally with said apparatus housing and generating first pointing data to be conveyed to said host computer via wireless communication when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer, said first pointing data corresponding to position coordinate information;

a second input unit being formed integrally with said apparatus housing and generating second pointing data to be conveyed to said host computer via an electrical connector when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer, said second pointing data corresponding to said position coordinate information;

a switching unit outputting a selection signal when said apparatus housing is attached to said host computer, and not outputting said selection signal when said apparatus housing is not attached to said host computer;

a control unit receiving said selection signal from said switching unit, and controlling said first pointing data and said second pointing data in accordance with said selection signal, said second pointing data being transmitted as an electrical signal to said host computer via said electrical connector when said selection signal is received, and said first pointing data being transmitted as a wireless signal to said host computer via said wireless communication when said selection signal is not received;

a radio transmitter unit transmitting said first pointing data as said wireless signal to said host computer;

said electrical connector transmitting said second pointing data as said electrical signal to said host computer; and

a battery supplying power to said apparatus.

24. A computer apparatus, comprising:

a system unit processing computer information;

a housing removably mounted in a cavity defined by said system unit;

first and second input units formed integrally with said housing, said first input unit generating first pointing data to be conveyed to said system unit via wireless communication when said housing is not mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit, and said second input unit generating second pointing data to be conveyed to said system unit via a first electrical connector when said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit; and

a switching unit outputting a selection signal in response to whether said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said system unit further comprises:

a second electrical connector being coupled with said first electrical connector of said second input unit and receiving said second pointing data via said first electrical connector when said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit;

a radio receiver unit receiving said first pointing data transmitted from said first input unit when said housing is not mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit; and

a microprocessor controlling said first and second pointing data.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second electrical connector includes a plurality of pins receiving said second pointing data and a plurality of power pins supplying power to said first and second input units.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, said switching unit not outputting a selection signal when said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit, and outputting said selection signal when said housing is not mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said controlling of said first and second pointing data performed by said microprocessor further comprises the steps of:

detecting when said switching unit outputs said selection signal;

establishing an electrical cable transmission channel to receive said second pointing data when said switching unit does not output said selection signal;

establishing a wireless transmission channel by said radio receiver to receive said first pointing data when said switching unit outputs said selection signal;

when said electrical cable transmission channel is established, determining when said second pointing data are generated;

when said electrical cable transmission channel is established and said second pointing data are generated, transmitting said second pointing data;

when said wireless transmission channel is established, determining when said first pointing data are generated; and

when said wireless transmission channel is established and said first pointing data are generated, transmitting said first pointing data.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, said switching unit outputting a selection signal when said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit, and not outputting said selection signal when said housing is not mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, said switching unit outputting a first selection signal when said housing is mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit, and outputting a second selection signal when said housing is not mounted in the cavity defined by said system unit, said first and second selection signals being distinguishable.