INPUT DEVICE WITH CONTOURED REGION

• US 20130328781A1
• Filed: 06/12/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Pate, Christopher, O Conaire, Cormac, Helwig, Marten, Lynch, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,209,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to input devices configured for use with computing devices. The present invention relates to input device configured with a plurality of input members grouped into contoured-shaped bowls on a portion of the input devices. The input device may also be configured for use with multiple hand positions and multiple profiles based on the hand positions. The input device may enable switching between user-programmable profiles, and may include sensory feedback indicating the profiles active on the input device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of input members disposed on the housing in a plurality of groups,

wherein each of a first group of input members and a second group of input members of the plurality of groups is contoured into a bowl shape on the housing, and

wherein a third group of input members of the plurality of groups includes a mode switch input member configured to switch between one or more profiles associated with the first group of input members and the second group of input members of the plurality of groups.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the first group of input members and the second group of input members of the plurality of groups includes six input members.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein each input member in the first group of input members and the second group of input members is configured into a different shape from the other input members in the group.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the first group of input members and the second group of input members of the plurality of groups is contoured into a concaved bowl shape with respect to the housing.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein each input member in the first group of input members and the second group of input members is configured with at least one portion angled toward a center of the concaved bowl shape.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to support a hand in a plurality of positions, including a first hand position, a second hand position, and a third hand position.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein each position in the plurality of positions is associated with a different selection of the first group of input members and the second group of input members.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein the first hand position is associated with the first group of input members, the second hand position is associated with the second group of input members, and the third hand position is associated with both the first group of input members and the second group of input members.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first group of input members and the second group of input members of the plurality of groups are disposed on a side portion of the housing.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the third group of input members of the plurality of groups is disposed on a top portion of the housing.

11. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a light-emitting element disposed on the housing configured to emit a plurality of colors, wherein each color in the plurality of colors indicates the profile associated with the plurality of input members.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the profile indicates the configuration of the plurality of input members.

13. An input device comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of input members disposed on the housing in a plurality of groups, wherein each of a first group of input members and a second group of input members of the plurality of groups is contoured into a bowl shape on the housing, and wherein each of the first group of input members and the second group of input members is associated with different hand positions of a user on the input device.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the housing is configured to support the different hand positions of the user on the input device, including a first hand position, and a second hand position.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein in a first mode, the first group of input members are associated with the first hand position and a set of functions.

16. The input device of claim 15, wherein in a second mode, the set of functions are assigned to the second group of input members associated with the second hand position.

17. The input device of claim 16, wherein in a third mode, the set of functions are assigned to both the first and second groups of input members.

18. The input device of claim 13, wherein an input member in a third group of input members is a mode switch input member configured to switch the input device between one or more profiles associated with the first group of input members and the second group of input members.