Input pad integrated with a touch pad
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorsBrian E. Manser, Robert J. Burnett, Richard W. Griencewic, James B. Stanek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input pad that is integrated with a touch pad is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computer includes an input pad cover slidable from a first position approximately adjacent to the touch pad to a second position over the touch pad. In the first position the touch pad is operable as a pointing device; relative movement actuated on the pad causes a pointer on a screen of the computer to correspondingly move. In the second position the touch pad is operable as an input pad, preferably a numeric input pad; actuation of an absolute position within a given region on the pad registers the depression of a key corresponding to the region with the computer.
Claims17
A computer keyboard comprising:
- a housing;
- a touch-sensitive pad disposed within the housing;
- and,
- an input pad cover slidable from a first position approximately adjacent to the touch-sensitive pad to a second position over the touch-sensitive pad,
- wherein the touch-sensitive pad is operable as a pointing device when the cover is in the first position and as an input pad when the cover is in the second position.
An input device for integration into a housing of a host device comprising a computer keyboard, the input device comprising:
- a touch-sensitive pad disposed within a surface of the housing;
- a first input pad cover slidable from a first position underneath the surface to a second position over the touch-sensitive pad;
- a second input pad cover slidable from a third position underneath the surface to the second position over the touch-sensitive pad,
- wherein the touch-sensitive pad is operable as a pointing device when the first input pad cover is in the first position and the second input pad cover is in the third position, as a first input pad when the first input pad cover is in the second position, and as a second input pad when the second input pad cover is in the second position.
A computer keyboard comprising:
- a housing;
- a touch-sensitive pad disposed within a surface of the housing;
- a first input pad cover slidable from a first position underneath the surface to a second position over the touch-sensitive pad;
- a second input pad cover slidable from a third position underneath the surface to the second position over the touch-sensitive pad,
- wherein the touch-sensitive pad is operable as a pointing device when the first input pad cover is in the first position and the second input pad cover is in the third position, as a first input pad when the first input pad cover is in the second position, and as a second input pad when the second input pad cover is in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.