Integrated touchpad and keyboard

• US 9,645,655 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dickenson, Gary I., Hutzler, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Carolyn R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Yuk
• Application Number:
  US13/853,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 345168, 345174, 345173, 345156, 341 34, 178 1805
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for implementing integrated keys on a user input device. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting an initial input in either a first or second proximity sensor device. The first proximity sensor device may be integrated into a first key of the user input device and the second proximity sensor device may be integrated into a second key of the user input device that is proximate to the first key. The method may further include starting a first timer upon sensing the initial input. The method may further activate one of a first input mode or second input mode. The first input mode may be activated absent detection of a key input before the first timer expires. The second input mode is activated if a key input is detected before the first timer expires.

Claims

1. A method for implementing integrated keys on a user input device, comprising:

detecting an initial input in a first proximity sensor device integrated into a first key of the user input device, a second proximity sensor device integrated into a second key of the user input device that is proximate to the first key,

wherein a first communication wire for the first proximity sensor device extends from a top portion of the first proximity sensor through the first key and out a bottom of the first key and a second communication wire for the second proximity sensor device extends from a top portion of the second proximity sensor through the second key and out a bottom of the second key, wherein the first communication wire and the second communication wire relay input from the first and second proximity sensors, respectively, to an electronic device in communication with the user input device;

starting a first timer upon sensing the initial input;

activating, after starting the first timer, one of a first input mode or second input mode, wherein the first input mode is activated based on no key input being detected before the first timer expires, and the second input mode is activated based on a key input being detected before the first timer expires;

starting, after the first input mode is activated, a second timer when the initial input is interrupted while in the first input mode;

determining if a second input is detected by the first or second proximity sensor devices after starting the second timer and before the second timer expires;

maintaining the first input mode as active based on the second input being detected after starting the second timer and before the second timer expires; and

ending the first input mode as active based on the second input not being detected after starting the second timer and before the second timer expires.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the first input mode the combined inputs from the first and second proximity sensor devices emulate an input of a specified input device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the emulated input of a specified input device is an input of a touchpad.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the emulated input of a specified input device is an input of a scrolling device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second proximity sensor devices are integrated to the top of the respective first and second keys.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial input is a physical contact of an object to either the first or second proximity sensor devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the first input mode upon a key input being detected from any integrated key.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein key inputs upon the integrated keys emulate an alternate input when the first input mode is active.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alternate input emulated is a selection input.

10. An apparatus for integrating keys on a user input device, comprising:

a first key integrated of the user input device with a first proximity sensor device;

a second key integrated of the user input device with a second proximity sensor device, the second key proximate to the first key, wherein a first communication wire for the first proximity sensor device extends from a top portion of the first proximity sensor through the first key and out a bottom of the first key and a second communication wire for the second proximity sensor device extends from a top portion of the second proximity sensor through the second key and out a bottom of the second key, wherein the first communication wire and the second communication wire relay input from the first and second proximity sensors, respectively, to an electronic device in communication with the user input device;

a first timer that starts upon detecting an initial input in the first proximity sensor devices, wherein a first input mode is activated, after starting the first timer, based on no key input being detected before the first timer expires; and

a second input mode is activated when there is a key input detected before the first timer expires;

a second timer that starts if the initial input is interrupted, wherein the first activity mode is maintained if a second input is detected by any proximity sensor devices after starting the second timer and before the second timer expires; and

ending of the first activity mode based on no detection of the second input to any of proximity sensor devices after starting the second timer and before the second timer expires.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in the first input mode the combined inputs from the first and second proximity sensor devices emulate an input of a specified input device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the emulated input of a specified input device is an input of a touchpad.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the emulated input of a specified input device is an input of a scrolling device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second proximity sensor devices are integrated to the top of the respective first and second keys.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the initial input is a physical contact of an object to either the first or second proximity sensor devices.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

deactivating the first input mode upon a key input being detected from any integrated key.