The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1994
David A. Bowers, Austin, TX (US);
Stephen A. Burke, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
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.