Dell USA L P

Stephen A Burke

John P Busch

Ken P Okaya

David A Bowers

A portable computer is provided with a combination trackball/mouse pointing device for controlling cursor movement on the computer screen. In one positional mode thereof, the device is removably inserted into a recess in the computer base housing and serves as an integrated trackball. In another positional mode thereof, the device is removed from the housing recess, vertically inverted, and rolled along a support surface adjacent the computer to serve as a mouse for screen cursor control purposes. Both the trackball and mouse functions of the device are carried out via the rotation of a ball carried by an outer housing portion of the device. In an alternate embodiment of the device, which does not require the vertical inversion of the device to switch between its mouse and trackball functions, the trackball function of the device is provided by a conventional touch pad structure exteriorly secured to the device housing on a side thereof opposite the exposed portion of the mouse ball.

Portable computer having reversible trackball/mouse device

A keyboard having a base and first and second demi-boards, which demi-boards include respective first and second key arrays. The first demi-board is supported in the base, and the second demi-board is supported in a variable elevation relative to the base. The elevation of the second demi-board may be selectively varied between a first elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially even relative to one another and a second elevation in which the first and second key arrays are substantially offset relative to one another. The second key array is operative in a first function mode when in the first elevation, and in a second function mode when in the second elevation. In one aspect, the second key array comprises first and second linked key rows, the second key row being moveable relative to the first key row so that the first and second key rows may be vertically aligned.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Stephen A Burke