Device for cursor movement and touch input

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9811183-B2
Application number	US-201514979944-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 28, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a housing containing at least one electrical component for wireless communication with a computer, a touch sensor coupled to the housing that generates signals responsive to a person touching a surface of the touch sensor, and pointing device circuitry coupled to the housing that provides input to the at least one electrical component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a housing defining a first surface and a second surface, the housing containing first circuitry that wirelessly communicates with a computer to move a cursor;
pointing device circuitry coupled to the housing that provides input to the first circuitry to move the cursor;
a first touch sensor coupled to the housing that generates signals responsive to a person touching a surface of the first touch sensor, the first touch sensor comprising a touch-enabled pad; and
an orientation sensor coupled to the housing that provides input to the first circuitry that is useable by the first circuitry to enable processing of input from the pointing device circuitry and to disable processing of input from the first touch sensor responsive to the first surface facing upward, and to disable processing of input from the pointing device circuitry and to enable processing of input from the first touch sensor responsive to the first surface facing downward;
wherein the device comprises a second touch sensor coupled to the housing that is manipulable to provide input to the first circuitry to issue a scroll command.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first touch sensor is oriented on the first surface of the housing and the pointing device circuitry is oriented on the second surface of the housing.

3. The device of claim 1 , comprising a switch coupled to the housing and manipulable to enable processing of input from the first touch sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is opposed to the first surface.

5. The device of claim 1 , comprising a slider coupled to the housing that is moveably engaged with the housing, the slider slidably obstructing and unobstructing the pointing device circuitry.

6. A method, comprising:
providing a housing containing at least one electrical component for wireless communication with a computer to move a screen cursor;
providing pointing device circuitry coupled to the housing that provides input to the at least one electrical component;
providing a touch sensor coupled to the housing that generates signals responsive to a person touching a surface of the touch sensor; and
providing a switch coupled to the housing that is manipulable to enable processing at least of input from the touch sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising providing an actuation element coupled to the housing for selectively switching an operative input element between the touch sensor and the pointing device circuitry.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the actuation element comprises an orientation sensor that provides input to the at least one electrical component that is useable by the at least one electrical component to enable generation of input from the pointing device circuitry and to disable generation of input from the touch sensor responsive to a first orientation of the housing, and to disable generation of input from the pointing device circuitry and to enable generation of input from the touch sensor responsive to a second orientation of the housing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the housing defines a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the first orientation being established responsive to the first surface facing upward, the touch sensor being oriented on the second surface opposite the first surface.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the housing defines a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the first orientation being established responsive to the first surface facing upward, the touch sensor being oriented on the first surface.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the touch sensor is slidably engaged with the housing between a recessed configuration and an extended configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising providing an actuation element coupled to the housing for enabling input from the touch sensor responsive to the touch sensor being transitioned to the extended configuration and disabling input from the touch sensor responsive to the touch sensor being transitioned to the recessed configuration.

13. A device, comprising:
a housing containing at least one electrical component for wireless communication with a computer;
a touch sensor coupled to the housing that generates signals responsive to a person touching a surface of the touch sensor;
pointing device circuitry coupled to the housing that provides input to the at least one electrical component; and
a switch coupled to the housing that is manipulable to enable processing at least of input from the touch sensor.

14. The device of claim 13 , comprising an actuation element coupled to the housing for selectively switching input between the touch sensor and the pointing device circuitry.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the actuation element comprises an orientation sensor that provides input to the at least one electrical component that is useable by the at least one electrical component to enable generation of input from the pointing device circuitry and disable generation of input from the touch sensor responsive to the housing being placed in a first orientation, and to disable generation of input from the pointing device circuitry and enable generation of input from the touch sensor responsive to the housing being placed a second orientation.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the housing defines a first surface and a second surface at least substantially opposed to the first surface, the first orientation being established based on the first surface facing upward, the touch sensor being oriented on the second surface opposite the first surface.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the housing defines a first surface and a second surface at least substantially opposed to the first surface, the first orientation being established based on the first surface facing upward, the touch sensor being oriented on the first surface.

18. The device of claim 13 , comprising an actuation element coupled to the housing, wherein the touch sensor is slidably engaged with the housing between a recessed configuration and an extended configuration, and wherein the actuation element is manipulable to enable input from the touch sensor responsive to the touch sensor being slid to the extended configuration and to disable input from the touch sensor responsive to the touch sensor being slid to the recessed configuration.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Rane Peter Carlson
• Truong Cuong Huy
• Schantz Daniel Jordan
• Ent Ali Kathryn
• Tucker Matthew Ian

Classifications

• G06F3/03547 Primary

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F3/038

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title

• G06F2203/0384

  Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title