Method and system for index finger controlled pointing device positioned on home row keys

• US 6,529,186 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Thayer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US09/696,756
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/164, 345/167, 345/157, 345/156, 345/158, 345/159
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

The present invention involves a computer based method and system employing an index finger controlled pointing device for manipulation and control of the keyboard. The user employ their index fingers as the pointing device from the home row typing position. All pointing device operations and thumb button operations can proceed without moving either hand from the home row key position. This represents a significant improvement over the current state of the art by keeping the user'"'"'s hands and fingers in place over the home row of keys on the keyboard. This improved approach is the basis of a major embodiment of this invention.

Claims

1. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing user'"'"'s said index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

employing a mini-joystick positioned either under or on the ‘

j’

key of said keyboard;

employing the right index finger to press on said ‘

j’

key, while keeping the finger positioned just over said home keys;

switching the ‘

j’

key function from a key to an index finger pointing device without the need to move either the left or right hand fingers away from the home row keys by having said left index finger hover over the ‘

f’

key;

and the right said index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

said left index finger hovers over said ‘

f’

key and said right index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

employing said switching mode consisting of said switching mode switching from ‘

j’

;

keystroking to said pointer and back to ‘

j’

keystroke mode by pressing the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys simultaneously, holding down the ‘

j’

key and releasing said ‘

f’

key, switching said ‘

j’

key into a pointer mode device, and

using said right finger to move the ‘

j’

key laterally to input x,y coordinate data and switching back to the ‘

j’

key from a pointing device, releasing the ‘

j’

key.

2. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing use'"'"'s said index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a comupter;

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

employing a mini-joystick positioned either under or on the ‘

j’

key of said keyboard;

employing the right index finger to press on said ‘

j’

key, while keeping the positioned just over said home keys;

switching the ‘

j’

key function from a key to an index finger pointing device without the need to move either the left or right hand fingers away from the home row keys by having said left index finger hover over the ‘

f’

key;

and the right said index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

said left index finger hovers over said ‘

f’

key and said right index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

invoking said keystroke mode switch using only one hand, with the thumb pressing the ‘

f’

key while the forefinger presses the ‘

j’

key and a right-handed user switches into a joystick mode with one hand.

3. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing user'"'"'s sad index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

employing a mini-joystick positioned either under or on the ‘

j’

key of said keyboard;

employing the right index finger to press on said ‘

j’

key, while keeping the finger positioned just over said home keys;

switching the ‘

j’

key function from a key to an index finger pointing device without the need to move either the left or right hand fingers away from the home row keys by having said left index finger hover over the ‘

f’

key;

and the right said index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

said left index finger hovers over said ‘

f’

key and said right index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

using a time delay to distinguish whether the user wishes to type ‘

fj’

, ‘

jf’

or perform a joystick mode switch, as follows;

simultaneously press the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys;

indicate “

a joystick”

mode switch where said ‘

j’

key becomes a pointer device;

and the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

characteristics are to be discarded;

employing a longer duration between pressing the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys produces the character sequence ‘

fj’

or ‘

jf’

.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the steps of;

employing any computer that provides under 50 millisecond time delays.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the steps of:

employing the left hand index finger for locating the joystick pointing device located on or under the ‘

f’

key.

6. The method of claim 4 further including the steps of:

employing two joystick pointing devices, one on or under the ‘

f’

key, and one under the ‘

j’

key;

holding down either the ‘

f’

or ‘

j’ and

press both;

continue to hold down either ‘

f’

or ‘

j’

key, and press both the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys simultaneously, causing the ‘

f’

of or ‘

j’

key to become the active joystick pointing device.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the steps of:

providing said keyboard device in which the key and the joystick are removable and said user positions said joystick under the ‘

f’

key or ‘

j’

key;

popping off the keycap, popping out the joystick device, replacing the joystick device and replacing the keycap where appropriate, one repositionable joystick is provided.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of:

employing the said key or keys that cover said joystick pointing device to perform a dual mechanical function;

hold down said key and push around said mini-joystick button, where the key is in the joystick mode;

reposition said joystick button directly over where said ‘

j’

or ‘

f’

key would be;

affix said keycap to the top of said joystick button, providing both key function and said joystick function; and

hold down the said key.

9. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing user'"'"'s said index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer,

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said uses hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

employ the left and right mouse buttons to serve as thumb buttons;

provide keyboard equipped with a mini-joystick located under the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys;

employing the index finger controlled joystick on the home row.

10. A computer based system employing an index finger controlled pointing device for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of:

means for using a user'"'"'s said index finger as said pointing device for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

by means of a joystick(s) placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers in place over the home row keys, throughout the process;

said mini-joystick is positioned either under or on the ‘

j’

key of said keyboard;

the right index finger is employed to press on said ‘

j’

key while keeping the finger positioned just over said home keys;

switching the ‘

j’

key function from a key to said index finger pointing device without the need to move either the left or right hand fingers away from the home row of keys by having said left index finger hovers over the ‘

f’

key and the right index finger hovers over the ‘

j’

key;

wherein said user can invoke said mode switch using only one hand, by using the thumb pressing the ‘

f’

key, while the forefinger presses the ‘

j’

key; and

said right-handed said user can switch into a joystick mode with one hand.

11. A computer based system employing an index finger controlled pointing device for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of:

means for using a user'"'"'s said index finger as said pointing device for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

by means of a joystick(s) placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers in place over the home row keys, throughout the process;

wherein a time delay is used to distinguish between whether the user wishes to type ‘

fj’

, ‘

jf’

or perform “

to a joystick”

mode switch, employing;

means by which the user simultaneously presses the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys within less a time, {fraction (1/10)} of a second or less; and

said user indicates through “

a joystick ”

mode switch that said ‘

j’

key becomes a pointer device, and the ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

characteristics are to be discarded; and

a longer duration between ‘

f’ and

‘

j’

keys produces the character sequence ‘

fj’

or ‘

jf’

.

12. A computer based system employing an index finger controlled pointing device for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of:

means for using a user'"'"'s said index finger as said pointing device for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

by means of a joystick(s) placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers in place over the home row keys, throughout the process;

said left and right mouse buttons serve as thumb buttons;

while said keyboard is equipped with a finger mini-joystick located to the left and right of said user'"'"'s thumbs; and

said index finger controlled joystick is on the home row.

13. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing user'"'"'s said index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

attaining one-handed said mode switching by;

pressing ‘

j’ and

‘

k’

key with the index finger and middle finger of said right hand; and

releasing the middle finger, using the index finger as the pointer.

14. A computer based method employing an index finger controlled pointing device, for manipulation and control of the computer keyboard, consisting of the steps of:

employing user'"'"'s said index finger for inputting x,y coordinate data into a computer;

as said pointing device, by means of a joystick(s);

placed on top of or under specific keyboard letters;

keeping said user'"'"'s hands and fingers over the home row of keys position, throughout the process;

attaining a one handed mode switch for left-handed users by;

pressing the ‘

d’ and

‘

f’

keys with the middle and the index fingers of left hand; and

releasing the middle finger, using the index finger of the left hand as the pointer.