Pointing devices for a portable computer

• US 5,565,889 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ambrose, Michael W., Crooks, Cynthia A., Mato, Stephan A. Jr., Bhagat, Gopal C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/269,967
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/160, 345/163, 345/169, 400/682, D14/160, 364/709.01, 364/709.02, 341/20-22
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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

Abstract

A pointing device according to the present invention includes a trackball embedded in the case of a computer display. The trackball is placed adjacent to the display and the select buttons for the trackball are located on the backside of the display case behind the trackball. The user guides the trackball with his thumb and pushes the select buttons on the backside of the case with his index and middle fingers, allowing the user to operate the pointing device with only one hand. Alternatively, the trackball is embedded in the corner of the keyboard of a desktop system, with the select buttons on the opposite side of the keyboard behind the trackball. With the keyboard standing on legs, the user'"'"'s fingers can reach the two select buttons opposite the trackball to operating the pointing device.

Claims

1. A keyboard for use with a computer system, the keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top face, a bottom face and two ends and a first opening in said top face, a second opening in said top face and a third opening in said bottom face;

a plurality of keys located in said housing and projecting through said first opening; and

a user interface device located within said housing, said user interface device including;

a pointing device positioned in said second opening; and

a first select button positioned in said third opening.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein said pointing device is a trackball.

3. A keyboard for use with a computer system, the keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom;

a plurality of keys positioned in the top of said housing; and

a user interface device located inside said housing, said user interface device including;

a pointing device positioned in the top of said housing, and

a first select button positioned in the bottom of said housing.

4. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said pointing device is a trackball.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein said housing further includes a recess formed in the top of said housing to receive said pointing device.

6. Keyboard of claim 3 wherein said housing further includes a recess formed in the top of said housing to receive said pointing device.

7. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said pointing device does not substantially protrude beyond the top of said housing.

8. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said first select button includes an outside surface, said outside surface does not protrude beyond the bottom of said housing.

9. The keyboard of claim 8 wherein said first select button outside surface is substantially flush with the bottom of said housing.

10. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said housing includes a second select button positioned adjacent said first select button.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein said second select button is positioned on the bottom of said housing.

12. The keyboard of claim 3 further comprising a pair of legs to support the housing.

13. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein said pointing device being positioned on either end of the front side of the keyboard.

14. A keyboard for use with a computer system having a display including a cursor, the keyboard comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom;

a plurality of keys positioned in the top of said housing; and

a user interface device located inside said housing, said user interface device including;

a pointing device positioned in the top of said housing for moving the cursor in any direction on the display, and

a first select button positioned in the bottom of said housing.

15. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein said pointing device is a trackball.

16. The keyboard of claim 15 wherein said trackball moves the cursor in any direction on the display.

17. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein said housing includes a second select button positioned adjacent said first select button.

18. The keyboard of claim 14 further comprising a pair of legs to support the housing.

19. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein said pointing device being positioned on either end of the front side of the keyboard.

20. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein when said first select button is activated a program being pointed to by the pointing device is executed without moving the cursor on the display.