X-Y navigation input device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A navigation input device for navigating a graphical display, the input device comprising:
- a circular sensing window having a perimeter;
an X-Y navigation touch sensor, which is sensitive to location of a user'"'"'s digit within the circular sensing window relative to the perimeter; and
an annular scrolling dial, which is coaxial with the circular sensing window and rotatable about a center of the sensing window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation input device for navigating a graphical display includes a substantially elliptical sensing window and a touch sensor, which is sensitive to placement of a user'"'"'s digit within the sensing window.
187 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A navigation input device for navigating a graphical display, the input device comprising:
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a circular sensing window having a perimeter;
an X-Y navigation touch sensor, which is sensitive to location of a user'"'"'s digit within the circular sensing window relative to the perimeter; and
an annular scrolling dial, which is coaxial with the circular sensing window and rotatable about a center of the sensing window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
the touch sensor comprises a sensing surface within the sensing window; and
the circular sensing window is defined by a circular, raised shoulder, which surrounds the sensing surface.
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4. The navigation input device of claim 1 wherein the touch sensor comprises a proximity sensor.
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5. The navigation input device of claim 1 wherein the touch sensor comprises a contact proximity sensor.
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6. A keyboard comprising:
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first and second keybanks, which are laterally separated from one another and have upper and lower keybank boundaries;
a central area between the first and second keybank boundaries;
a touchpad navigation device, comprising;
a sensing window having a substantially circular perimeter; and
a touch sensor, which is sensitive to location of a user'"'"'s digit relative to the sensing window, said touchpad navigation device being positioned within the central area, between the upper and lower keybank boundaries; and
an annular scrolling dial, which is coaxial with the sensing window and rotatable about a center of the sensing window. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a center reference line extending through the central area, from the lower keybank boundary toward the upper keybank boundary and equidistant between the first and second keybanks; and
wherein the touchpad navigation device is centered along the center reference line.
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8. The keyboard of claim 6 and further comprising:
a scrolling wheel positioned within the central area, between the touchpad navigation device and the upper keybank boundary.
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9. The keyboard of claim 8 and wherein:
the scrolling wheel is laterally offset toward one of the first and second keybanks relative to a center of the touchpad navigation device.
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10. The keyboard of claim 9 and further comprising:
a depressible switch positioned within the central area, between the scrolling wheel and the other of the first and second keybanks.
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11. The keyboard of claim 6 and further comprising:
a depressible switch positioned below the lower keybank boundary.
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12. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the depressible switch is separated from the touchpad navigation device by 6-8 centimeters.
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13. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein a center of the depressible switch is positioned along a natural arc of a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand when an index finger of the user'"'"'s hand is placed at a center of the touchpad navigation device, wherein a size of the user'"'"'s hand falls within a range of a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male of North American adults.
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14. The keyboard of claim 13 and further comprising a further depressible switch positioned below the lower keybank boundary and along the natural arc.
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15. The keyboard of claim 6 wherein the touchpad navigation device is positioned relative to the first keybank such that a user'"'"'s hand a size of the user'"'"'s hand having a size falling within a range of a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male of North American adults is in a biomechanically neutral position when an index finger of the hand is touching a center of the touchpad navigation device and a middle finger of the hand is resting on the first keybank.
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16. A keyboard comprising:
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first and second keybanks, which are laterally separated from one another and have upper and lower keybank boundaries;
a central area between the first and second keybanks;
a touchpad X-Y navigation device positioned within the central area, between the upper and lower keybank boundaries, and comprising a circular sensing window and a touch sensor, which is sensitive to placement of a user'"'"'s digit within the sensing window; and
a scrolling wheel positioned within the central area, between the X-Y navigation device and the upper keybank boundary, and laterally offset toward one of the first and second keybanks relative to a center of the X-Y navigation device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
a center reference line extending through the central area, from the lower keybank boundary toward the upper keybank boundary and equidistant between the first and second keybanks; and
wherein the X-Y navigation device is centered along the center reference line.
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18. The keyboard of claim 16 and further comprising:
a depressible switch positioned within the central area, between the scrolling wheel and the other of the first and second keybanks.
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19. The keyboard of claim 16 and further comprising:
a depressible switch positioned below the lower keybank boundary.
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20. The keyboard of claim 16 and further comprising:
a depressible switch positioned below the lower keybank boundary.
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21. The keyboard of claim 20 wherein the depressible switch is separated from the X-Y navigation device by 6-8 centimeters.
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22. The keyboard of claim 20 wherein a center of the depressible switch is positioned along a natural arc of a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand when an index finger of the user'"'"'s hand is placed at a center of the X-Y navigation device, wherein a size of the user'"'"'s hand falls within a range of a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male of North American adults.
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23. The keyboard of claim 22 and further comprising a further depressible switch positioned below the lower keybank boundary and along the natural arc.
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24. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the X-Y navigation device is positioned relative to the first keybank such that a user'"'"'s hand a size of the user'"'"'s hand having a size falling within a range of a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male of North American adults is in a biomechanically neutral position when an index finger of the hand is touching a center of the X-Y navigation device and a middle finger of the hand is resting on the first keybank.
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25. A computer comprising:
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an electronics housing;
a display coupled to the electronics housing; and
a keyboard coupled to the electronics housing and comprising;
first and second keybanks, which are laterally separated from one another and have upper and lower keybank boundaries;
a central area between the first and second keybanks;
a touchpad navigation device comprising a substantially circular sensing window and a touch sensor, which is sensitive to location of a user'"'"'s digit relative to a perimeter of the sensing window, wherein the touchpad navigation device is positioned within the central area, between the upper and lower keybank boundaries; and
an annular scrolling dial, which is coaxial with the circular sensing window and rotatable about a center of the sensing window. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A navigation input device for navigating a graphical display, the input device comprising:
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a substantially circular sensing window having a perimeter;
an X-Y navigation touch sensor, which is sensitive to location of a user'"'"'s digit within the substantially circular sensing window relative to the perimeter; and
an annular scrolling dial, which is coaxial with the circular sensing window and rotatable about a center of the sensing window.
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Specification