Patent · US Expired

Computer pointing device

US6018334A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
7References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 20, 1997
Grant dateJan 25, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 20, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0213
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer pointing device including a supporting member which supports or forms a part of a conventionally-known QWERTY keyboard. The supporting member is movable relative to a supporting surface and includes a sensor for sensing directional movements or directional pressures of the supporting member relative to the supporting surface. Alternatively, a palm rest can be movably coupled relative to the supporting member and include a sensor for sensing directional movements or pressures applied to palm rest. The sensor can be coupled to a computer to control a pointer on the computer display. By these structures, a user can operate the computer pointing device without moving the hands from the QWERTY keyboard by moving the QWERTY keyboard and/or the adjacent palm rest relative to a supporting surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.