Method of capturing user control inputs
First Claim
1. A method of capturing user control inputs, the method comprising:
- providing a first navigation member slidably coupled on a housing portion of a portable computer and a stationary second navigation member external to and independent of the portable computer;
providing an input card including an optical navigation sensor for detecting relative motion and configuring the input card with a size and a shape for deployment of the input card in a first releasably fixed arrangement relative to the first navigation member and a second movable arrangement relative to the stationary second navigation member; and
capturing a first user control input for controlling a function of the portable computer, via communication between the input card and the portable computer, based on relative motion between the optical navigation sensor of the input card and one of respective movable first navigation member and stationary second navigation member,wherein configuring the input card for deployment in the first releasably fixed arrangement comprises;
configuring the housing portion to include an input interface comprising the first navigation member and a support portion configured to releasably secure the input card relative to the housing of the portable computer to support the optical navigation sensor in an exposed position relative to first navigation member, and for slidable movement of the first navigation member relative to the support portion; and
removably slidably inserting the input card into a slot of support portion of the input interface to detect relative motion between first navigation member and the optical navigation sensor of the input card.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of capturing user control inputs includes providing a first navigation member slidably coupled on a housing portion of a portable computer and a stationary second navigation member external to and independent of the portable computer. An input card is provided that includes an optical navigation sensor and is configured with a size and a shape for deployment of the input card in a first releasably fixed arrangement relative to the first navigation member and a second movable arrangement relative to the stationary second navigation member. A first user control input is captured for controlling a function of the portable computer, via communication between the input card and the portable computer, based on relative motion between the optical navigation sensor of the input card and one of respective movable first navigation member and stationary second navigation member.
48 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of capturing user control inputs, the method comprising:
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providing a first navigation member slidably coupled on a housing portion of a portable computer and a stationary second navigation member external to and independent of the portable computer; providing an input card including an optical navigation sensor for detecting relative motion and configuring the input card with a size and a shape for deployment of the input card in a first releasably fixed arrangement relative to the first navigation member and a second movable arrangement relative to the stationary second navigation member; and capturing a first user control input for controlling a function of the portable computer, via communication between the input card and the portable computer, based on relative motion between the optical navigation sensor of the input card and one of respective movable first navigation member and stationary second navigation member, wherein configuring the input card for deployment in the first releasably fixed arrangement comprises; configuring the housing portion to include an input interface comprising the first navigation member and a support portion configured to releasably secure the input card relative to the housing of the portable computer to support the optical navigation sensor in an exposed position relative to first navigation member, and for slidable movement of the first navigation member relative to the support portion; and removably slidably inserting the input card into a slot of support portion of the input interface to detect relative motion between first navigation member and the optical navigation sensor of the input card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable computer comprising:
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a display; and a housing pivotally connected to the display and defining; an upper portion defining an input interface including a support portion on which a first navigation member is slidably movable relative to the support portion, wherein the support portion includes a slot configured to removably slidably receive an optical navigation card including an optical navigation sensor for detecting relative motion into a releasably fixed position within the slot to expose the optical navigation card to detect relative motion between the first navigation member and the optical navigation card to capture a first user control input for controlling a function associated with the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of capturing user control inputs, the method comprising:
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removably inserting a user input member within a slot of a housing of a computer to releasably secure the user input member in a releasably fixed position within an input pad adjacent an upper surface of the housing of the computer; positioning a slider for slidable movement over the input pad of the upper surface of the housing of the computer to expose a first navigation surface on the slider to an optical navigation sensor of the user input member; and capturing a first user control input for controlling a function of the computer, via communication between the user input member and the computer, based on detection of relative motion between the first navigation surface of the slider relative to the optical navigation sensor of the user input member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification