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Ergonomic touch pad

  • US 6,501,462 B1
  • Filed: 07/01/1999
  • Issued: 12/31/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An input device for a user of a computer, the device comprising:

  • a chassis;

    a set of input controls secured to the chassis;

    a touchpad secured to the chassis in operative proximity to the set of input controls, the chassis having a substantially planar region proximate to the touchpad;

    at least one finger movable to activate the touchpad when the user'"'"'s hand is positioned on the input controls for normal operation thereof;

    a first ergonomic zone defined relative to the input controls and the touchpad and comprising the locus of positions naturally occupied by the one finger during normal operation of the input controls by the user'"'"'s other fingers;

    a second ergonomic zone defined relative to the first zone and comprising the locus of points accessible by the one finger when seeking to activate the touchpad during normal operation of the input controls by the user'"'"'s other fingers, the first and second ergonomic zones having partially overlapping boundaries to define an overlap zone, the touchpad having an edge portion extending in the overlap zone;

    a ridge protruding from the plane of the planar region of the chassis, the ridge extending proximate to the edge portion of the touchpad, the ridge being sufficiently sized to provide tactile feedback to the user when the ridge is contacted by the one finger, the ridge thereby signaling the edge portion of the touchpad to facilitate desired activation of the touchpad and inhibit inadvertent activation thereof.

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