Mouse printing device with integrated touch pad buttons

• US 6,970,159 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robin S. Gray
• Original Assignee: Robin S. Gray
• Inventors: Gray, Robin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, MING HUN
• Application Number:
  US09/888,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/173, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/169 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 3/0213 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A computer mouse system and method of using is presented whereby the computer mouse system is used in conjunction with laptop or notebook computers or with external or auxiliary mouse, and with external or auxiliary computer keyboards. Each embodiment having touch pads, glide points, touch screens, or touch panels, integrated into the touch pads, glide points, touch panels, or touch screens by building, molding, manufacturing. The touch pads, glide points, touch screens, or touch panels, can also be placed at alternative locations on any of the mouse systems.

Claims

1. A handheld computer mouse system comprising at least one mechanical mouse button and having at least one touch pad, wherein said at least one touch pad is integrated into a cavity opening formed in said at least one mechanical mouse button, said handheld computer mouse system further comprising a handheld mouse system housing for supporting said at least one mechanical mouse button, said mechanical mouse button being movably mounted within said mouse system housing and capable of independent movement relative to said mouse system housing to invoke a highlighting mode without physical movement of said mouse system housing.

2. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a press button.

3. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a press and lock button.

4. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a sliding panel button.

5. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical mouse button has at least one finger pressing device formed thereon for application of pressure for causing movement of said at least one mechanical mouse button relative to said mouse system housing.

12. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 4, wherein said sliding panel button is capable of being displaced forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally from an initial position.

13. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 3, wherein said press and lock button is provided with a means for allowing said press and lock button to pivot.

15. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said handheld computer mouse system manipulates and relocates a screen cursor without physical movement or repositioning of said handheld mouse system housing.

16. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein at least one wall forming said cavity opening in said mechanical mouse button remains in a face-to-face relationship with at least one wall of the touch pad during manipulation of said at least one mechanical mouse button.

18. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said computer mouse system functions to point and reposition a screen cursor without physical movement of said mechanical mouse button.

19. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button and said at least one touch pad are adapted to move together in a desired direction relative to said computer mouse system housing.

20. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical mouse button with said touch pad comprises a backlit area that is illuminated during said highlighting mode.

23. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein at least one wall forming said cavity opening in said mechanical mouse button is in a face-to-face relationship with at least one wall of the touch pad.

24. The handheld computer mouse system of claim 1, wherein at least one wall of said at least one touch pad extends into said cavity opening.

6. An auxiliary computer mouse, wherein said auxiliary computer mouse comprises a computer mouse housing supporting at least one mechanical mouse button, and at least one touch pad integrated into a cavity opening formed in said at least one mechanical mouse button, said mechanical mouse button being movably mounted within said mouse housing and capable of independent movement relative to said mouse housing to invoke a highlighting mode without physical movement of said mouse housing.

7. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a press button.

8. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a press and lock button.

9. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is a sliding panel button.

10. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button having said at least one touch pad is integrated into a cavity opening formed in a sidewall of said auxiliary computer mouse housing.

11. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said computer mouse housing is separate from a central processing unit housing and separate from a keyboard housing.

14. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said computer mouse housing is an auxiliary computer keyboard housing.

17. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said computer mouse functions to point and reposition a screen cursor without physical movement of said mouse housing.

21. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said at least one mechanical mouse button is integrated into a cavity opening formed in a top wall of said auxiliary computer mouse housing.

22. The auxiliary computer mouse of claim 6, wherein said computer mouse housing is a keyboard housing and is separate from a central processing unit housing.