Input apparatus with supporting arm

• US 7,053,884 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chun-Chung, Li, Chin-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/135,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/162, 345168-179, 345/184, 361/680, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, D14/344, D14/346, D14426-461, D14145-151, D14/268, D14/252, 455/347, 341/20, 341 22- 26
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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

Abstract

An input apparatus and auxiliary input apparatus are described. In one embodiment, the input apparatus has an input unit and at least one supporting arm. Users hold the supporting arms with some of their fingers and operate the input units with other of their fingers. In another embodiment, the auxiliary data input apparatus utilizes an attachment device, e.g. a clip, to attach the auxiliary input apparatus to an electronic or mechanical device, e.g. a separable keyboard, to facilitate input operations. The auxiliary input apparatus has at least one supporting arm. Users hold the supporting arms with some of their fingers and operate the electronic or mechanical device with other of their fingers.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

a case having a receiving space;

an input unit disposed on said case for a user to perform an input operation;

at least one supporting arm connecting to said case and selectively stored in said receiving space, said user holding said supporting arm with some of his/her fingers while performing said input operation with other of his/her fingers; and

an activation device connecting to said case;

wherein said activation device has a resilient unit and a switch, and wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm to escape from said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving space is a slot.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving space is a groove.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting arm is separably connected to said case.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit is a keyboard.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit is a joystick.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input apparatus is integrated with an electronic device.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

9. An input apparatus comprising:

a case having a receiving space;

an input unit disposed on said case for a user to perform an input operation;

at least one supporting arm connecting to said case and selectively stored in said receiving space, said user holding said supporting arm with some of his/her fingers while performing said input operation with other of his/her fingers; and

an activation device connecting to said case;

wherein said activation device has a resilient unit and a switch, and wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm into said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

10. An auxiliary input apparatus used for selectively attaching to a first apparatus, said auxiliary input apparatus comprising:

an attachment device, attached to said first apparatus in a separately manner, said attachment device having a receiving space;

at least one supporting arm connecting to said attachment device such that a user holds said at least one supporting arm with some of his/her fingers and operates said first apparatus with other of his/her fingers when said attachment device is attached to said first apparatus, said supporting arm is selectively stored in said receiving space; and

an activation device having a resilient unit and a switch;

wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm to escape from said receiving space when said switch is actuated.

11. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said attachment device comprises a clip.

12. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first apparatus is an input apparatus.

13. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said input apparatus is a keyboard.

14. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first apparatus is an electronic device.

15. The auxiliary input apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

16. An auxiliary input apparatus used for selectively attaching to a first apparatus said auxiliary input apparatus comprising:

an attachment device, attached to said first apparatus in a separately manner, said attachment device having a receiving space;

at least one supporting arm connecting to said attachment device such that a user holds said at least one supporting arm with some of his/her fingers and operates said first apparatus with other of his/her fingers when said attachment device is attached to said first apparatus, said supporting arm is selectively stored in said receiving space; and

an activation device having a resilient unit and a switch, wherein said resilient unit drives said supporting arm into said receiving space when said switch is actuated.