Portable computer with interchangeable pointing device modules
US5793355A · kind A · utility
149Cited by
8References
39Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/1616
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A notebook computer is provided with first and second different types of pointing device modules, representatively a pointing stick module and a touchpad module, that may be releasably and interchangeably installed on its base housing portion. Each module, when installed on the base housing, is automatically coupled to cursor control circuitry within the computer. Representatively, a convenient snap-in attachment structure is used to releasably connect each module to the computer base housing, and a removable computer component underlies and assists in supporting the removably installed pointing device module.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.