Patent Application
20140333537
In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to input devices, namely, a pointing device/mouse having a keypad integrated thereon. Other embodiments relate to a pointing device/mouse having a virtual keyboard activation mechanism, which, when activated, causes a virtual keyboard to appear on a computer screen of a tablet or similar device.
Typically, a computer or other computerized device may receive input through a keyboard implemented either as hardware or virtually, for example, on a touch-sensitive computer screen. Typically, these are separate devices, or the mouse is placed somewhere on the keyboard, as a touch sensitive keypad or moveable stick, etc. As computers, tablets, smart phones, and other digital devices are becoming more and more prevalent in daily life, it is therefore desirable to have an improved apparatus and method for data input.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a pointing device which integrates a mouse (having a position/movement-detecting mechanism) with a keypad/keyboard. In one embodiment, the keypad may be situated on a housing of a pointing device. In another embodiment, a virtual keypad may be activated on a computer screen by activation by a button or other mechanism present on a pointing device. In yet another embodiment, the pointing device comprises both a keypad situated on the housing thereof and an activation button for enabling the virtual keypad.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a pointing device, having a housing, a position detector, an interface, and a keypad.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a pointing device, having a housing, a position detector, an interface, and a virtual keypad activation mechanism.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a method comprising, in response to activation of a keypad located on a housing of a pointing device, transmitting a signal from the pointing device to a computing device via an interface, a signal indicating data to be displayed on a screen associated with the computing device.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method comprising, in response to activation of a virtual keypad activation mechanism of a pointing device, transmitting a signal from the pointing device to a computing device via an interface, a signal indicating a command to display a virtual keypad on a screen associated with the computing device.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.
Illustrative embodiments will now be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc., do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The term “computing device” herein encompasses a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a tablet computer, a telephone, a cellular phone, a smartphone, and any other digital computing device now known or hereafter developed, etc. In addition, the term “screen”, “display screen” or “display” as used herein can be any user interface.
In general, a pointing device, or “mouse” (used interchangeably herein), detects a direction and position of movement of the mouse, and transmits the coordinates to a computing device to control movement of a cursor or other pointer on a screen associated with the computing device. Keyboard technology allows a user to enter data, typically, in the form of alphanumeric and other symbols to a computing device.
Referring to
Position and movement detector 204 (referred to herein as “position detector”) is typically provided for detecting the direction and distance of movement of the pointing device 200. When pointing device 200 is moved back and forth and from side to side, the coordinates of the position are detected by the position detector 204. The coordinates are transmitted to the computer (e.g., 102 of
The position detector 204 may be any suitable detection apparatus, such as a trackball apparatus, a ball type using a mouse ball, of an optical type using an optical sensor, laser sensor, or any other suitable detection technology now known or hereafter developed, etc.
The at least one function button is represented herein as function buttons 210 and 212. In practice, more or fewer function buttons may be included on the pointing device 200, and the invention is not limited to the two shown. In the present embodiment, the function buttons are shown on an upper surface of housing 202. In practice, the function button(s) can be situated on any suitable area of the pointing device 200 accessible to a user typically by his/her fingers. Function buttons 210 and 212 have the same function as the function buttons provided on a conventional mouse. For example, when the function buttons 210 and 212 are pressed, signals are transmitted to the computing device (e.g. 102 of
The keypad 206 includes an array of keys, e.g., 220. The keys 220 of keypad 206 may comprise button-like keys. Alternatively, the keypad 206 may be a screen wherein the keys 220 are touch-sensitive virtual keys. These keys may comprise alphanumeric symbols, e.g., arranged in a QWERTY keypad 222 and/or a numerals keypad 224, and/or a plurality of control keys 226. Keys 222 of the keypad 220 are configured and disposed to transmit a code via interface 208 to a computing device (e.g. 102 of
The interface 208 transmits signals generated in the operation of the pointing device 200 to the computing device (e.g. 102 of
If at 302, it is determined that keypad 206 is activated, at step 304, position detector 204 senses position and movement of the pointing device 200. At 306, the pointing device 200 transmits positional data to the computing device (e.g., 102 of
If, at 302, the determination is that the keypad 206 is activated, at 310, the keypad accepts input (alphanumeric and/or symbolic by a user's pressing of one or more of the keys). At 312, the keypad transmits the input as data to the computer (e.g., 102 of
Referring to
The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
