Integrated USB input device

• US 7,038,665 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NMB USA Incorporated (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Pandana, Jamin
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/458,858
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

An integrated input device communicates with a host computer system in accordance with the low-speed Universal Serial Bus (USB) Specification. The keyboard includes a function controller for providing output signals to a host computer or an upstream hub using a single USB low-speed cable and a USB type A connector. Signals generated by a pointing device are coupled to the appropriate pins of the function controller. The pointing device may be hard-wired to the function controller. Alternatively, the signals generated by the pointing device may be coupled to the function controller using a wireless technique, such as a radio frequency technique or an infrared technique.

Claims

1. An input device for a computer system, comprising:

a keyboard having a function controller therein for providing output signals for use in said computer system in accordance with a Universal Serial Bus technique;

a pointing device coupled to said function controller, said keyboard and said pointing device operate by sharing said function controller in said keyboard; and

wherein said function controller is the only controller in said keyboard.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device is dumb.