Pointing stick in a computer keyboard for cursor control
US5568987A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2239/052
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for use in a computer keyboard for cursor control is disclosed. The apparatus includes a compound key which serves for both typing a character and for pointing operations, i.e. for cursor control like a mouse. For pointing operations, a pointing stick or shaft is pressed in a desired direction by a user for moving a cursor in a corresponding direction on a display screen. The pointing stick is disposed in an aperture that extends through a modified key cap, so that no additional keyboard space is required for the pointing device, thereby obviating a separate mouse, keyboard mounted trackball or the like. In an alternative embodiment, the pointing stick extends through an aperture in the keyboard space bar. In another embodiment, adjacent key caps are modified so as to fit closely around the key cap that houses the pointing stick without interfering with operation of either the pointing stick or the keyswiches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.