Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Touch panel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-10
2001-07-24
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Touch panel
C178S018010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266050
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from an application entitled a Portable Computer Having Touch Pad Input Control Function earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 8th day of August 1997, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 97-38021, a copy of which is annexed hereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to portable computers, and more particularly to a portable computer having a touch pad input device in which inadvertent operation of the touch pad can be prevented during keyboard input operation.
2. Related Art
Computer systems are information handling systems that are utilized by many individuals and businesses today. A conventional computer system can be defined as a microcomputer that includes a central processing unit (CPU), a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a display monitor, a keyboard, an input device for cursor control such as a mouse, a floppy diskette drive, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a modem, a hard disk storage device, and a printer. Typically, a computer system's main board, which is a printed circuit board known as a motherboard, is used to electrically connect these components together.
Portable computers are often referred to as laptop, notebook, or sub notebook computers. These computers typically incorporate a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other relatively small display. Typically, portable computers are equipped with pointing devices for enabling input of coordinate data, selection of a menu, moving of an object, and so forth. Examples of pointing devices include a mouse, a track ball, a stylus, a touch pad, and others. The typical pointing device of the portable computer may include a track ball, track point, and touch pad. These portable computer pointing devices are incorporated into the main body of the portable computer for their compact fit for the smaller size of the portable computer. Also, buttons are provided onto the surface of the main body to be pressed or clicked manually and to control certain functions that may be customized to suit the user.
Modem notebook computers often adopt the touch pad for its flat and compact structure. The touch pad is usually mounted in the midst of palm rest portion of the notebook computer, and in particular placed below “space” bar of the keyboard. Moving the mouse pointer is possible by moving a finger on the touch pad, and clicking operation can be made by touching a finger onto the touch pad.
However, during the keyboard input operation, problems arise in such a touch pad pointing device that the pointing operation can be made inadvertently by the movement of fingers. Particularly, thumbs are apt to be touched at the touch pad unconsciously since the touch pad is located adjacent the thumb position of the keyboard. In this case, an insertion point can be moved to wrong position on screen and one may make an error in key input in an application program such as a word processor program.
Attempts have been made to avoid inadvertent operation of the touch pad by adjusting the touch pad size or by changing the location of the touch pad. I believe these attempts have been unsuccessful because the inadvertent operation of the touch pad still occurs. In addition, these attempts have created design problems because the location of the touch pad and the size of the touch pad can limit design options of portable computers.
Exemplars of recent efforts in the art include U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,113 for a System for Using a Touchpad Input Device for Cursor Control and Keyboard Emulation issued to Logan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,138 for a Touch Panel Control Device with Touch Time and Finger Direction Discrimination issued to Araki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,458 for a Method and Apparatus Recognizing the Cessation of Motion of a Pointing Device on a Displays by Comparing a Group of Signals to an Anchor Point issued to Zetts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,161 for a System and Method for Emulating a Mouse Input Device with a Touchpad Input Device issued to Logan et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,218 for a Method and Apparatus for Contacting a Touch-sensitive Cursor-controlling Input Device to Generate Button Values issued to Della Bona et al.
Although various types of touch pads for computers currently exist, I have discovered that there is a need to provide an improved touch pad input control function for a portable computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the related art, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a portable computer having a touch pad input control function which can prevent pointing/click input of the touch pad by an inadvertent touch during the keyboard input operation.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is provided in a portable computer system an input device interface receiving pointing data generated in a touch pad and counting time between occurrences of pointing data. When the time count exceeds a preset value, the input device interface disables input of the pointing data from the touch pad. The input operation of the pointing data is resumed when a series of pointing data corresponding to a predetermined pattern have been inputted. Preferably, the predetermined pattern is set by a closed curve which is irrespective of the area and curvature. According to this invention, unnecessary pointing operation by an inadvertent touch of the touch pad is effectively prevented.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus operating a touch-sensitive touch pad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, said touch pad unit generating first, second, and third pointer data respectively corresponding to a first, a second, and a third touching of said touch pad unit, each one of said touchings having a beginning and an end; an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first, second, and third pointer data from said touch pad unit, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data from said interface unit, detecting a first quantity of time corresponding to time elapsing after said end of said first touching, not transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data from said interface unit when said first quantity of time exceeds a predetermined quantity of time; and a central processing unit being coupled to said interface unit, receiving said first control signal from said interface unit, and transforming said first control signal to a pointer to be displayed at a first position on a monitor coupled to said computer system, said first position on said monitor corresponding to said first control signal.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus controlling a touch-sensitive touch pad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, generating first and second pointer data respectively corresponding to a first and second touching of said touch pad unit, and transmitting said first and second pointer data, said second touching beginning after said first touching ends; an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first pointer data, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data, detecting a first quantity of time elapsing after said first touching ends, transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data when said first quantity of time does not exceed a predetermined quantity of time, and not transmitting said second control signal when said first quantity of tim
Oh Jae-choeul
Park Chong-Yok
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Piziali Jeff
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Shalwala Bipin
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