Multi-mode pointing device and systems and methods using the pointing device

Abstract

An article includes a pointing device having a stationary tracking component; a base; and a keyboard arrangement. The keyboard arrangement is coupled to the base and is configured and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position. When the keyboard arrangement is in the second position, the keyboard arrangement is capable of holding the pointing device stationary and has an aperture to expose the stationary tracking component of the pointing device. The pointing device, in a first mode, provides pointer control by movement on a track surface of the base and, in a second mode, provides pointer control using the stationary tracking component.

1 . An article comprising: 
 a pointing device comprising a stationary tracking component;    a base; and    a keyboard arrangement coupled to the base and configured and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein, when the keyboard arrangement is in the second position, the keyboard arrangement is capable of holding the pointing device stationary and has an aperture to expose the stationary tracking component of the pointing device;    wherein the pointing device, in a first mode, provides pointer control by movement on a track surface of the base and, in a second mode, provides pointer control using the stationary tracking component.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the pointing device is a mouse.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the stationary tracking component is a touchpad.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard arrangement comprises a keyboard.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the keyboard arrangement further comprises a keyboard support coupled to the keyboard.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the keyboard support is movably coupled to the base and configured and arranged to move the keyboard arrangement between the first position and the second position  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the keyboard is rotatably coupled to the keyboard support.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the keyboard is configured and arranged to rotate about the keyboard support between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein, in the first mode, a region of the touchpad of the pointing device is configured and arranged to perform a left click button function.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein, in the first mode, a region of the touchpad of the pointing device is configured and arranged to perform a right click button function.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein, in the first mode, a region of the touchpad of the pointing device is configured and arranged to perform a scrolling function.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the pointing device further comprises a left click button.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture of the keyboard arrangement is configured and arranged to expose the left click button when the keyboard arrangement is in the second position.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the pointing device further comprises a right click button.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the aperture of the keyboard arrangement is configured and arranged to expose the right click button when the keyboard arrangement is in the second position.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch mechanism that is actuated as the keyboard arrangement moves between the first and second positions, wherein actuation of the switch mechanism puts the pointing device in the first mode if the keyboard arrangement is moved to the first position and puts the pointing device in the second mode if the keyboard arrangement is moved to the second position.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a manual switch mechanism that when actuated changes the pointing device between the first and second modes.  
     
     
         18 . A system comprising: 
 a controller;    a display coupled to the controller to display information from the controller; and    an input device coupled to the controller, the input device comprising; 
 a pointing device comprising a stationary tracking component,  
 a base, and  
 a keyboard arrangement coupled to the base and configured and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein, when the keyboard arrangement is in the second position, the keyboard arrangement is capable of holding the pointing device stationary and has an aperture to expose the stationary tracking component of the pointing device,  
 wherein the pointing device, in a first mode, provides pointer control by movement on a track surface of the base and, in a second mode, provides pointer control using the stationary tracking component.  
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the stationary tracking component is a touchpad.  
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a pointing device, the method comprising: 
 moving a pointing device on a track surface of a base to control a pointer when a keyboard arrangement, movably coupled to the base, is in a first position; and    using a stationary tracking component disposed on the pointing device to control a pointer when the keyboard arrangement is in a second position in which the keyboard arrangement holds the pointing device stationary.    
     
     
         21 - 27 . (canceled)