Computer having an integrated gaming control pad

• US 6,462,937 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Wirtz, Jefferson, Liao, Reynold L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/668,416
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/679, 361/680, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/918, 248/631, 400/715, 400/691, 400/693, 379/433, 379/437, 379/440
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• 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 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A computer includes a base having an exterior surface. A keyboard includes input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface. A palm rest area is adjacent the keyboard. At least one palm rest component is detachably mounted in the palm rest area. Auxiliary input components are mounted in the palm rest area adjacent the palm rest component.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a base having an exterior surface;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

at least one palm rest component detachably mounted in the palm rest area; and

a plurality of auxiliary input components mounted in the palm rest area adjacent the palm rest component.

2. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the palm rest area is recessed into the exterior surface.

3. The computer as defined in claim 2 wherein the recessed palm rest area includes a recessed surface.

4. The computer as defined in claim 3 wherein the auxiliary input components are mounted in the recessed surface.

5. The computer as defined in claim 4 wherein the palm rest component is seated in the recessed palm rest area and conceals the auxiliary input components.

6. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the exterior surface is formed of a first material and the palm rest component is formed of a second material different from the first material.

7. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the exterior surface is formed of a first material having a first color, and the palm rest component is formed of a second material different from the first material, and having a second color different from the first color.

8. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the exterior surface is formed of a first material having a first texture, and the palm rest component is formed of a second material different from the first material, and having a second texture different from the first texture.

9. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein the palm rest area includes a pair of separated palm rest areas each including a recessed surface.

10. The computer as defined in claim 9 wherein each recessed surface includes auxiliary input components.

11. The computer as defined in claim 10 wherein a palm rest component is seated in each recessed palm rest area and conceals the auxiliary input components.

12. The computer as defined in claim 3 wherein the palm rest component is seated in the recessed palm rest area.

13. The computer as defined in claim 12 wherein the palm rest component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface.

14. The computer as defined in claim 13 wherein the auxiliary input components are mounted in one of the first and second surfaces, and a textured palm rest is formed on the other of the first and second surfaces, whereby the palm rest component is reversibly mounted in the recessed palm rest area to alternately expose one of the first and second surfaces.

15. A computer system comprising:

a chassis having an exterior surface;

a microprocessor mounted in the chassis;

a storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a video controller coupled to the microprocessor;

a memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

at least one palm rest component detachably mounted in the palm rest area; and

a plurality of auxiliary input components mounted in the palm rest area adjacent the palm rest component.

16. The computer system as defined in claim 15 wherein the auxiliary input components are mounted on one side of the palm rest component, and a textured palm rest is formed on another side of the palm rest component, opposite the one side.

17. The computer system as defined in claim 15 wherein the palm rest component is seated in the palm rest area and conceals the auxiliary input components.

18. A customer configured portable computer comprising:

a base having an exterior surface;

a keyboard including input components mounted on a portion of the exterior surface;

a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

at least one customer configured palm rest component detachably mounted in the palm rest area; and

a plurality of customer configured auxiliary input components mounted in the palm rest area adjacent the palm rest component.

19. The computer system as defined in claim 18 wherein the auxiliary input components are mounted on one side of the palm rest component, and the textured palm rest is formed on another side of the palm rest component, opposite the one side.

20. The computer system as defined in claim 18 wherein the palm rest component is seated in the palm rest area and conceals the auxiliary input components.

21. A method of providing game controls for a portable computer comprising:

forming a base having an exterior surface;

mounting a keyboard on a portion of the exterior surface, the keyboard including input components;

providing a palm rest area adjacent the keyboard;

detachably mounting at least one palm rest component in the palm rest area; and

mounting auxiliary input components in the palm rest area adjacent the palm rest component.