Computer input system

• US 8,405,615 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Williams
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/583,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 345/167, 345/168, 361/679.14
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664

Abstract

A pair of essentially similarly configured computer input controllers including a first controller and a second controller. Each of the controllers has a front, a rear, an intermediate section, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top, and a bottom. A hand rest area is formed on the top of each of the controllers adjacent to the front. Each controller is at a lower elevation adjacent to the front and a higher elevation adjacent to the intermediate section. A track ball is rotationally supported in the interior surface adjacent to the intermediate section of the second controller. A keyboard portion is formed on the top of each of the controllers adjacent to the rear. A plurality of buttons is on the top of each of the controllers.

Claims

1. A computer input system for positioning operational components at strategic locations on two similarly configured halves, the system comprising, in combination:

a pair of essentially similarly configured computer input controllers including a first controller and a second controller, wherein said first controller and said second controller are not physically joined to one another and wherein each of the pair of controllers having a front section and a rear section and an intermediate section, each of the controllers having an interior surface and an exterior surface, each of the controllers having a contoured top and a planar bottom positionable upon a planar recipient surface;

a pair of hand rest areas, each hand rest area formed on the top of one of the controllers adjacent to the front section, each hand rest area being imperforate and in an oval configuration with a major axis extending from the front section to the rear section and with a minor axis extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface, the hand rest area of each controller being at a lower elevation adjacent to the front section and at a higher elevation adjacent to the intermediate section;

a track ball rotationally supported in the interior surface adjacent to the intermediate section of the second controller adjacent to the intermediate section, the track ball adapted to be rotated for moving a cursor;

a keyboard portion formed on the top of each of the controllers adjacent to each rear section, each keyboard portion having a plurality of keys arranged in four rows, of seven keys with distinct alpha-numeric indicia on each key, the keyboard portions of the pair of controllers, when taken together, constituting a full conventional keyboard;

each hand rest area having an upper edge, a first, row of buttons, a second row of buttons, each of the rows of buttons containing six buttons located between the intermediate section and the rear section of one of the controllers, the first row of buttons being located on an underside of the hand rest facing downwardly, the second row of buttons being located at an angle spaced beneath the first row of buttons facing generally upwardly;

each controller having a two button array formed of two laterally spaced upwardly facing buttons adjacent to the interior surface at the intermediate section;

each controller having a large upwardly facing button laterally spaced from the hand rest adjacent to the interior surface;

each controller having a small upwardly facing button laterally spaced from the two button array adjacent to the exterior surface at the intermediate section;

a four button array on the first controller including four upwardly facing spaced buttons in an oval pattern between the two button array and the large button adjacent to the interior surface at the intermediate section; and

wherein all of the buttons are programmable while macros are adapted to be assigned to individual buttons that emulate multiple key strokes with the ability to set time delays between key strokes assigned in a macro, and wherein the system is adapted to be connected via cable and wireless methods, and wherein software and device drivers are adapted to be added on an accompanying computer disk that includes functionality for the default keyboard layout and graphic user interface for managing custom profiles of button assignments.