Collapsible pointing stick apparatus for a portable computer

Details Collapsible pointing stick apparatus for a portable computer Collapsible pointing stick apparatus for a portable computer

1995-02-06

1997-01-14

Phillips, Michael W.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

345168, 200 6A, G06F 116, H01H 2106

Patent

active

055946186

ABSTRACT:
A collapsible pointing stick structure is mounted on the top side of the keyboard of a notebook computer and is manually pivotable, about a selected axis parallel to the top side of the keyboard, to controllably reposition a cursor being displayed on the lid portion of the computer. When the computer lid is opened, the top end of the pointing stick structure projects upwardly beyond the top sides of the keyboard key cap members to facilitate its manual engagement and manipulation by the user of the computer. However, in response to closing of the computer lid, the top end of the pointing stick structure is automatically collapsed to an elevation generally aligned with the top sides of the key cap members. Due to the collapsible operation of the pointing stick structure its incorporation into the computer does not require that the vertical thickness of the closed computer be increased. A mechanism prevents the pointing stick structure from collapsing when the lid portion is open.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5521596 (1996-05-01), Selker et al.
Toshiba T4400C brochure.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 31, No. 11, pp. 288 and 289, Apr. 1989, "Telescopic Joystick", copy in 400-479.

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