Position encoder system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsTimothy J. Jondrow, Robert B. E. Puckette, Michael D. Derocher, Steven L. Fogle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The position encoder system requires no keyboard surface area and includes a retractable and extendable handle that is stored inside the computer when not in use. The handle is extended for use near the computer keyboard. The movement of the handle is sensed by a high resolution sensing system that consumes relatively little power.
Claims36
A position encoder system for a computer that has a housing, comprising:
- a handle;
- a latch for securing the handle to the computer housing;
- extension means for releasing the handle from the housing into an extended position for permitting movement of the extended handle relative to the housing;
- a link member having an outer end connected to the handle to move therewith and an inner end received in the housing so that the inner end moves when the outer end moves with the handle;
- and
- encoder means for sensing movement of the inner end, thereby to determine movement of the extended handle for providing to the computer information that is indicative of the handle position.
A stowable input apparatus for a computer that has a housing, comprising:
- a handle;
- a stowage compartment defined in the housing for receiving the handle;
- stowage means for stowing the handle within the compartment and for extending the handle from the compartment so that the handle is movable relative to the housing;
- linking member connected to the handle and to the housing so that the linking member moves with the handle relative to the housing, a portion of the linking member being received within the housing for translational movement relative to the housing, the movement of that link member portion corresponding to the movement of the handle.
A method of generating information for a computer, the information corresponding to the position of a movable handle member, comprising the steps of:
- linking the movable handle and the computer with a linking member that moves with movement of the handle;
- sending, by capacitive coupling, sensing signals between the linking member and a sensing component contained within the computer so that the sensing signals are modulated by movement of the linking member;
- and
- processing the modulated sensing signals to produce position information based upon the movement of the linking member.
A method of controlling a pointing indicium on a computer display screen, comprising the steps of:
- extending from the computer a movable handle member;
- linking the handle member and the computer with a linking member that moves with the handle member;
- detecting movement of the linking member;
- generating position information based upon the movement of the linking member;
- and
- stowing the handle member within the computer when the handle member is not used.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.