Control post or joystick electromechanically engaging a keypad-centered pointer device for a laptop computer or the like

{
  "publication_number": "US6654004B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Control post or joystick electromechanically engaging a keypad-centered pointer device for a laptop computer or the like",
  "abstract": "In a laptop computer having a display, a matrix of touch-sensitive keys, and a TrackPoint® device for generating cursor and function selection on display is embedded centrally among the keys. The TrackPoint® has a removable cap into which the joystick can be mechanically and electrically coupled. This permits stable platform joystick operation, especially where the computer executes programs involving a joystick as an element of a simulated control interface.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising a display, a keyboard, and a processor coupling said display and said keyboard, said keyboard including a matrix of actuable touch sensitive keys and a manually operable pointing device sited among and within predetermined ones of said keys, said pointing device coupling to said processor for controlling the movement of a display cursor and the selection of function as depicted on the display, said system further comprising: a manually grippable lever including a post attached at one end; a mechanism coupling said post end of said lever to the pointing device for forming a unitary control structure, said coupled lever and pointing device being concurrently movable in several degree of freedom; and circuits responsive to kinematics of the coupled lever and pointing device for communicating indicia thereof to the processor; wherein the pointing device comprises a pointing device post having a lower portion connected to said force transducer and an upper portion adapted for engagement with a removable-user end cap, the lever including, at its lower end, a post adapted to connect to the upper portion of the pointing device post when the cap is removed.",
    "2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the circuits include electrical contacts on the lever post coupled to at least one user-actuable button on the lever, the lever electrical contacts being adapted to engage with corresponding electrical contacts in the upper portion of the pointing device post, wherein actuation of the button causes a signal to be relayed via the lever post and circuits to the processor.",
    "3. In combination with a joystick and a laptop computer, said computer comprising a display, a keyboard, and a processor coupling said display and keyboard, said keyboard including a matrix of actuable touch-sensitive keys and a manually operable pointing device sited among and within predetermined ones of said keys, said pointing device coupling to said processor for controlling movement of a display cursor and a selection of function as depicted on the display, wherein: the pointing device comprises a first post having a lower portion connected to a force transducer and an upper portion adapted for engagement with a removable user-engageable end cap; and the joystick comprises, at its lower end, a second post adapted to connect to the upper portion of the first post of the pointing device upon removal of the end cap.",
    "4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said joystick includes at least one finger actuable control element mounted thereon; and further wherein the pointing device includes circuits coupling the control element and is responsive to its actuated state for communicating indicia thereof to the processor."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to manually actuable control surfaces, posts, and other devices, and more particularly to said control surfaces, posts, and other devices electromechanically engaging computer-driven displays for regulating cursor movement and function selection on said displays.\n\nAspects of Laptops\n\nA “laptop” is defined as a microcomputer small enough to use on one's lap. Laptops may be plugged into an electrical outlet or more conveniently powered by an internal battery for several hours. Laptops are also referred to as “portable” or “notebook” computers. The terms “portable”, “notebook”, and “laptop” will be used synonymously throughout the specification.\n\nThe term “notebook” derives from the fact that laptop computers may be closed and carried much like a closed book when not in use. In addition, they may be opened up, as is a book, when being read. When so open, the display occupies the top lid or cover portion and is approximately vertical and hinged to the bottom lid or cover portion. Relatedly, the latter contains information entry and processing facilities, and is electrically and logically coupled to a liquid crystal display (LCD). An LCD is an information display comprising a picture element (pixel) addressable array. Because of the LCD's thin sandwich construction, the bulk associated with electron beam tube displays can be eliminated.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/1616",
    "G06F 1/169"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 1/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "International Business Machines Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Roger Philip Hoggarth"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1999-02-19",
  "publication_date": "2003-11-25",
  "grant_date": "2003-11-25",
  "priority_date": "1998-03-06",
  "application_number": "US-25315199-A",
  "family_id": "10828030",
  "cited_by_count": 42,
  "citations": [
    "US5034574A",
    "US5521596A",
    "US5278557A",
    "US6310606B1",
    "US5343219A",
    "US5982355A",
    "US5699082A",
    "US5867808A",
    "US5489900A",
    "US5694123A",
    "EP0725329A1",
    "EP0751455A1",
    "US5615083A",
    "US5640179A",
    "US5889508A",
    "US5870082A",
    "US5949643A",
    "US6002388A",
    "US5982356A"
  ]
}