WO2008007902A1

WO2008007902A1 - Keyboard with pointing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008007902A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Taeun Park; Sangjung Shim
Original assignee: Tp-I Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2007-07-11
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: KR20080006493A

Abstract

Provided is a keyboard including an embedded pointing apparatus that can replace a mouse. The keyboard provides a function of a pointing device and has a plurality of input keys for typing. The keyboard is characterized in that at least one of the input keys includes a pointing module controlling a pointer on a monitor screen according to a displacement of an object contacting the pointing module and an input through the keyboard, and the keyboard includes a function key on a front side thereof for controlling a pointing operation.

Description

KEYBOARD WITH POINTING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly, to a keyboard including an embedded pointing apparatus that can replace a mouse.

BACKGROUND ART

The development of a mouse for moving a pointer to select a desired execution menu from a computer monitor has allowed graphic user interface (GUI) environments t o be formed in computer systems.

Since then, embedded pointing devices such a touchpad and a pointing stick hav e been developed for small-sized portable computers as replacements to the external mouse. FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate examples of conventional pointing devices embedde d in a desktop computer keyboard or a notebook keyboard.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional notebook keyboard including a touchpad pointin g device.

The touchpad pointing device includes a touchpad 110, a selection/execution but ton 120, a scroll wheel 140, and a menu extension button 130. The selection/executio n button 120 is used to select and execute a menu that is being pointed to on a monitor , and the menu extension button 130 is used to reveal hidden options, information, and menus in a GUI environment. The scroll wheel 140 is used to scroll the screen more r apidly in a vertical direction for efficient search. FIG. 2 illustrates a notebook keyboard including a pointing stick 150. The keyb oard includes buttons 170 and 180 and a scroll wheel 160 having the same functions as those of the buttons 120 and 140 and the scroll wheel 140 illustrated in FIG. 1. Howe ver, the pointing stick 150 of the keyboard is disposed between input keys.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a keyboard including a touchpad 110 and a point ing stick 150.

The pointing devices illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 are different from a mouse i n that the pointing devices are fixed and a user manipulates the pointing devices using his/her finger to move a pointer whereas the mouse itself is moved in order to move the pointer.

In addition to the function of moving the pointer, the pointing devices are also us ed for additional functions such as region selection, dragging, and opening of pop-up m enus. For the additional functions, a command button has to be pressed. In the case of a mouse, a user moves the mouse to a predetermined position using his/her hand t o move a pointer and stops the mouse. Then, the user presses a command button of t he mouse with his/her finger without moving his/her hand still. However, in the case of a touchpad or a pointing stick, a user moves a pointer to a predetermined position usin g the touchpad or pointing stick, and then, the user has to additionally move his/her fing er to press a function key.

For example, immediately after a user moves a mouse to move a pointer to a de sired position, the user can press an execution command button using his/her thumb, in dex finger, or middle finger without moving his/her hand. On the other hand, in the cas e of a touchpad or a pointing stick, a user should additionally move wrist or finger to pre ss a command button. Moreover, in the latter case, the user may have to use his/her both hands to input a specific command.

For these reasons, pointing devices such as a touch pad and a pointing stick are not as convenient when compared with a mouse. Thus, although a pointing device s uch as a touchpad and a pointing stick is embedded in a notebook computer, many use rs connect an additional mouse to the notebook computer.

Therefore, many efforts have been made to remove the inconveniences of using a touchpad or a pointing stick and provide the same convenience as using a mouse. F urthermore, the mouse have been advanced from a ball mouse to a laser mouse to furt her convenience the movement of the mouse for positioning a pointer, and the number of buttons of the mouse have been increased from one to three. In addition, the positi ons of the buttons of the mouse have been changed from positions corresponding to us er's thumb, index finger, and middle finger to provide further convenience to users.

An example of a pointing device developed as a result of such efforts is disclose d in Korean Patent No. 259264. FIG. 4 illustrates the disclosed pointing device.

Referring to FIG. 4, a detachable touchpad 210 combined with a mouse is used as a wire/wireless input device for a notebook computer. A mouse ball is disposed in a bottom surface of the touchpad 210, such that the touchpad 210 can be used as a wir eless mouse after detaching the touchpad 210 from the notebook computer.

In another example of a pointing device disclosed in Korean utility model applicat ion No. 1997-003481 (refer to FIG. 5), two command buttons are formed at the left side of a touchpad to allow a user to manipulate the touchpad and the command buttons wit h his/her two thumbs and place other fingers above a keyboard so as to reduce the mo vement of user's hands while manipulating the touchpad.

In another example of a pointing device disclosed in Japanese patent application No. 2000-213492, a touchpad 410, execution buttons 420, and a scroll wheel 430 are disposed as shown in FIG. 6 so as to allow a user to move a pointer with his/her thumb and click the execution buttons 420 with his/her index or middle finger without further m ovement of his/her hand.

However, such pointing devices and function keys (execution buttons) of the poin ting devices are spaced apart from input keys used for typing. Thus, it is inconvenient to use the aforementioned pointing devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate examples of keyboards including conventional pointin g modules. FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate examples of notebook computers including keyboard s having conventional pointing modules.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate typical optical pointing modules. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate keyboards including pointing modules according to emb odiments of the present invention. FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken along line A-A' of FIG. 10 according t o an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are exemplary views illustrating how a user uses the keyboards depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 with his/her hands.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views illustrating a pointing module embedded in a key ace ording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The present invention provides a keyboard including a pointing module embedde d in at least one of input keys as a pointing apparatus that can replace a pointing stick a nd a touchpad.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard pro viding a function of a pointing apparatus and having a plurality of input keys for typing. The keyboard is characterized in that at least one of the input keys includes a pointing module controlling displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a displac ement of an object contacting the pointing module, and the keyboard includes a functio n key on a front side thereof for controlling a pointing operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboar d providing a function of a pointing device and having a plurality of input keys for typing. The keyboard is characterized in that at least one of the input keys includes a pointin g module controlling displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a displ acement of an object contacting the pointing module, wherein at least one of the input k eys is assigned a predetermined function for controlling a pointing operation, and the ke yboard includes a first switch key receiving an input for switching between a key-input m ode where the pointing module is disabled and inputs for typing are received through th e input keys and a first pointing mode where the pointing module is enabled to control t he pointer and the predetermined function assigned to the at least one of the input keys is enabled.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard provi ding a function of a pointing device and having a plurality of input keys for typing, chara cterized in that at least one of the input keys comprises a pointing module controlling di splacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a displacement of an object c ontacting the pointing module, the keyboard including: a first switch key receiving an inp ut for switching between a first pointing mode where the pointing module is enabled to c ontrol the pointer and a predetermined function assigned to the at least one of the input keys is enabled and a key-input mode where the pointing module and the predetermin ed function are disabled and inputs for typing are received through the input keys; and a second switch key receiving an input for switching between the key-input mode and a second pointing mode where the pointing module is enabled to control the pointer and t he predetermined function is disabled, wherein at least one of the input keys is assigne d the predetermined function for controlling a pointing operation.

The pointing module may be an optical pointing module detecting the displacem ent of the object using light.

Two or more of the input keys may include pointing modules, and the pointing m odules may have different displacement ratios of displacement of the pointer to displac ement of the object contacting the pointing module, respectively.

The keyboard may further include a displacement ratio selection key used to sel ect a displacement ratio of displacement of the pointer to displacement of the object co ntacting the pointing module. The displacement ratio selection key may be held down fo r selecting a first displacement ratio for the pointer and may be released for selecting a second displacement ratio for the pointer.

One of the input keys may be assigned the displacement ratio selection key, and the displacement ratio selection key may be enabled in the first pointing mode.

The keyboard may further include another function key, wherein one of the two f unction keys may include first and second switches configured for a right-handed user, and the other of the two function keys may include first and second switches configured for a left-handed user. The keyboard may further include a plurality of space bars assigned different fun ctions in the first pointing modes.

At least one of the input keys not including the pointing module may be assigned a scroll function, and the scroll function may be enabled in the first pointing mode.

The assignment of the predetermined function to at least one of the input keys fo r the first pointing mode may be determined by a user.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, a pointing module is embedded in at least on e of input keys of a keyboard so that a user can move a pointer on a monitor screen wit hout moving his/her hand from a standard typing position. Furthermore, since an addit ional mouse or a touchpad is not necessary owing to the pointing module, the size of th e keyboard can be reduced. BEST MODE

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the acco mpanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

According to the present invention, a pointing module is included in at least one of input keys of a keyboard.

The term "keyboard" is used herein as a broad term to refer to various key input devices. For example, the keyboard may be a key input device of a remote control, a mobile phone, a personal computer, or a notebook computer.

In addition, the term "input key" is used herein to refer to any key of a keyboard. For example, the input key may be a key used to input a character, a symbol, or a digit . Furthermore, the input key may be a space bar, an Alt key, a Shift key, a Tab key, a P age up key, a Page down key, a Home key, or an End key.

According to the present invention, the pointing module included in an input key i s used to detect the movement of an object contacting the pointing module so as to mo ve a pointer (which is shown on a monitor or screen, or the like) in response to the mov ement of the object. Examples of the pointing module include a touchpad type pointin g module and an optical pointing module.

Any pointing module that can detect the movement of an object contacting the p ointing device can be used as the pointing module of the present invention. However, the pointing device for the pointing module of the present invention may have a small si ze so as to be embedded in an input key. For this reason, an optical pointing module having a small size may be used as the pointing module of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a typical optical pointing module, and FIG. 8 illustrates an optica I pointing module disclosed in Korean Patent No. 495686 for explaining an operation of the typical optical pointing module.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in a body 510, light is emitted from a light emitting un it 530 to an object side 520 through a lens 570. Light reflected from the object side 52 0 contains information about the movement of an object such as a finger contacting the object side 520, and the information is detected by an optical sensor 540 (an image sen sor) when the reflected light is incident on the optical sensor 540. Thus, a pointer can be moved based on the information. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical pointing m odule further includes a click button 550 formed on a substrate 560 for pointing-mode s witching. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical pointing module has substantially the same structure as an optical mouse except that the optical pointing module detects a m ovement of a finger contacting the object side 520 at a fixed position although the optic al mouse itself is moved. All kinds of optical pointing modules can be used as the opti cal pointing module of the present invention as long as the size of the optical pointing m odule is sufficiently small enough to be embedded in an input key.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate keyboards including pointing modules 610L and 610R a ccording to embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional vi ews taken along line A-A' of FIG. 10 according to an embodiment of the present inventi on. In the keyboard of FIG. 9, the pointing modules 610L and 610R are embedded in F and J keys. In the keyboard of FIG. 10, the pointing modules 610L and 610R are e mbedded in G and H keys.

In the present invention, a single pointing module can be included in the keyboar d, or two or more pointing modules can be included in the keyboard as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In the latter case, the pointing modules may have different displacement ratios of displacement of a pointer to displacement of an object contacting the pointing module. For example, for a right-handed user, the pointing module 610R (a right pointing module) can be used to control precise movements of a pointer, and the pointing modul e 610L (a left pointing module) can be used to control large-scale movements of the poi nter.

That is, it can be set up in a manner such that the movement of a left-hand finger contacting the pointing module 610L enables the pointer to move ten times or more th e distance that is traveled by the pointer due to the movement of a right-hand finger. I n this case, the pointer can be easily moved to a desired position although the right-han d and left-hand fingers only move slightly on the input keys.

When x-axis and y-axis displacements of a finger are denoted as (Δ x, Δ y), and x-axis and y-axis displacements of a pointer are denoted as (Δ X, Δ Y), the relationshi p between the displacements of the finger and the pointer can be expressed by Equatio ns 1 and 2 below: [Equation 1] Δ X = F_R Δ χ, Δ Y = F_R Δ y [Equation 2]

Δ X = F_L Δ χ, Δ Y = F_L Δ y where FR and FL are displacement proportion constants (displacement ratios) of the displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen to the displacement of a finger on a pointing module.

For example, when F_R=10F_L, the movements of the right-hand and left-hand fing ers result in amounts of movement of the pointer which differ by a multiple of ten. The refore, the right pointing module 610R can be used to precisely control movements of th e pointer, and the left pointing module 610L can be used to control large-scale moveme nts of the pointer. Hence, both the large and small movements of the pointer can be e asily and precisely controlled.

Since the pointing modules 610L and 610R are embedded in the input keys of th e keyboard, it can be difficult to move the pointer in proportion to the movements of fing ers on the pointing modules 610L and 610R because the pointing modules 610L and 6 10R contacting the fingers are small. However, according to the current embodiment, t he pointing modules have different displacement ratio as described above, and as a res ult such a limitation can be removed.

The keyboard of the present invention further includes left and right function keys 620L and 620R and a switch key 630 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 12. The keys 620L, 620R, and 630 may be properly located such that a user can manipulate the keys 620L, 620R, and 630 with his/her thumbs without moving his/her hands during typing o r pointing activities. For example, the keys 620L, 620R, and 630 can be formed below a space bar.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 through 12, the function keys 620L and 62 OR, and the switch key 630 are formed on the keyboard. However, in another embodi ment of the present invention, only one of the function keys 620L and 620R, and the sw itch key 630 can be formed on the keyboard.

The left function key 620L provides the same functions as left and right buttons o f a mouse (left, right, and middle buttons of a mouse), and the right function key 620R p rovides the same functions as left and right buttons of a mouse (left, right, and middle b uttons of a mouse). Furthermore, each of the function keys 620L and 620R provides t he same functions as the buttons 120 and 130 of the touchpad 110 of FIG. 1. For this, each of the function keys 620L and 620R may include two or three switches correspon ding to two or three buttons of a conventional mouse. In the embodiments of FIGS. 9 1 hrough 12, each of the function keys 620L and 620R includes a first switch SW1 and a second switch SW2.

The two function keys 620L and 620R are included in the keyboard as shown in FIGS. 9 through 12 so as to allow both right-handed and left-handed users to convenie ntly use the pointing modules 61 OL and 61 OR. A right-handed user can use the right f unction key 620R as function buttons like the buttons 120 and 130 of the touchpad 110 of FIG. 1 , and a left-handed user can use the left function key 620L as function buttons like the buttons 120 and 130 of the touchpad 110 of FIG. 1. Each of the left and right function keys 620L and 620R has the first and second s witches SW1 and SW2 as left and right function buttons. For example, when left and r ight sides of the function keys 620L and 620R are pressed as shown in FIG. 12, the first switch SW1 of the left function key 620L is turned on, and the second switch of the rig ht function key 620R is turned on. Here, the function of the first switch SW1 of the right function key 620R may be e qual to that of the second switch SW2 of the left function key 620L, and the function of t he second switch SW2 of the right function key 620R may be equal to that of the first s witch SW1 of the left function key 620L. For example, when a left-handed user uses a mouse, the left-handed user may have to change the configuration of the mouse from right-handed user options to left-handed user options. However, according to the emb odiments of the present invention, both the left and right function keys 620L and 620R a re provided such that such inconvenience of changing the mouse configuration can be r emoved.

The keyboard of the present invention may further include the switch key 630 for switching between pointing mode or key-input mode. In pointing mode, the pointing m odules 610R and 610L can be used. However, in key-input mode, the use of the pointi ng modules 610R and 610L are not allowed, and only the use of input keys of the keyb oard is allowed.

In pointing mode, the use of the input keys can be allowed or not allowed. This will now be described in more detail.

Even when the keyboard does not include the switch key 630, characters can be input by pressing the input keys in which the pointing modules 610R and 610L are resp ectively embedded, and the pointer can be moved by moving fingers on the pointing mo dules 610R and 610L without pressing the input keys in which the 610R and 610L are e mbedded.

However, the pointer can be undesirably moved on the monitor screen when fing ers slide on the input keys during typing. In order to prevent this inconvenience, it is necessary to provide two separate m odes: the key-input mode where only the use of the input keys influences the monitor sc reen, and the pointing mode where the pointing modules 610R and 610L can be used f or moving the pointer on the monitor screen. The switch key 630 may be used for swit ching between the key-input and pointing modes. For this reason, the switch key 630 is included in the keyboards illustrated in FIG

S. 9 through 12.

The switch key 630 can include first and second switches SW1 and SW2. The second switch SW2 of the switch key 630 is used to deactivate the pointing mode to prevent movement of the pointer during typing such that the pointer can be pre vented from being unintentionally moved when the input keys in which the pointing mod ules 610R and 610L are embedded are used for typing.

Specifically, when the second switch SW2 is pressed once, the keyboard enters the pointing mode (e.g., a second pointing mode) where the pointing modules 610R an d 610L are enabled for moving the pointer. When the second switch SW2 is pressed again, the keyboard switches to the key-input mode where the pointing modules 61 OR a nd 610L are disabled.

Alternatively, it can be configured in a manner such that the keyboard is in the po inting mode while the second switch SW2 is held down and switches to the key-input m ode when the second switch SW2 is released, or vice versa. The first switch SW1 of the switch key 630 can be used for another function whic h allows some of input keys of the keyboard to replace the function keys 620L and 620 R. In this case, the space occupied by the function keys 620L and 620R can be saved , and the movements of hands can be minimized since it is not necessary to change the positions of the hands for switching between the pointing and key-input modes. In detail, when the first switch SW1 of the switch key 630 is pressed, some of the input keys of the keyboard can function as function keys of a pointing device. For ex ample, the space bar of the keyboard can function as a right button of a mouse (comma nd execution function), and the "K" key of the keyboard can function as a right button of a mouse (menu extension function).

The space bar of the keyboard can be divided into a plurality of sub space bars, and different functions can be allocated to the sub space bars. The allocation of functions to the sub space bars can be preset by a manufactur er, or determined by a user using a configuration program.

Methods of allocating desired functions to specific keys are provided by various a pplication programs or operating systems such as Microsoft Windows™. Thus, detaile d descriptions of the methods will be omitted. Other functions as well as the functions of mouse buttons may be allocated to th e input keys of the keyboard of the present invention.

For example, a scroll-up function can be allocated to the "U" key, and a scroll-do wn function can be allocated to the "N" key. If necessary, other functions such as scrol l-left and scroll-right functions can be allocated to the input keys of the keyboard. In this case, the space required for various function keys can be saved, and thus the size of the keyboard can be reduced. Furthermore, a user can use various functi on keys without moving his/her hands away from the input keys of the keyboard (i.e., th e user can perform a pointing activity while his/her hands are placed in the same positio n as that used for typing), and thus various tasks can be carried out more easily and ra pidly.

In addition to the above-described features of the present invention, a displacem ent ratio of displacement of the pointer to displacement of an object contacting the point ing module 61 OL or 620R can be selected using an additional key or one of the existing input keys of the keyboard. In detail, the displacement ratios related with the pointing modules 61 OL and 610

R can be adjusted (i.e., the above-described F_R and F_L of Equations 1 and 2 can be adj usted). Therefore, the movement of the pointer can be controlled both coarsely and fi nely using a single pointing module.

For example, when a key (a displacement ratio selection key) is held down, a hig h displacement ratio is selected such that the pointer moves largely on the monitor sere en in response to a slight movement of a finger on the pointing module. When the dis placement ratio selection key is released, a low displacement ratio is selected such that the pointer moves slightly even though the finger moves largely on the pointing module

One of the input keys of the keyboard can be used as the displacement ratio sel ection key, or an additional key can be formed on the keyboard as the displacement rati o selection key. Therefore, even when only one pointing module is formed on the key board, the movement of the pointer can be controlled using two displacement ratios. Fu rthermore, when two pointing modules are formed on the keyboard, the movement of th e pointer can be controlled using four displacement ratios. Accordingly, a user can co ntrol the position of the pointer more conveniently and precisely. For example, when the semi-colon (;) key is used as the displacement ratio selec tion key, a right-handed user can control the position of the pointer both coarsely and fi nely by manipulating the semi-colon key using only his/her right-hand finger without mo ving his/her right hand from the typing position. For example, when the right pointing module 610R is currently used in fine adjustment mode, the right point module 610R ca n be used in coarse adjustment mode by holding down the semi-colon key. When the semicolon key is released, the right pointing module 610R can be used again in the fine adjustment mode.

As explained above, the displacement ratio selection function can be provided us ing one of the input keys of the keyboard or by forming an additional key on the keyboar d.

According to the above-described embodiment, some of the input keys of the ke yboard can be used as both input keys and function keys, pointing activities can be perf ormed using one hand or both hands without moving the hand(s) from the typing positio n, so that the pointing activities can be conveniently performed like the case of using a mouse.

When the first switch SW1 of the switch key 630 is pressed (once or is held dow n), a specific key of the input keys of the keyboard is used as a preset function key and is not used for typing.

In this case, the pointing modules 610L and 610R may be in an active state such that the position of the pointer can be controlled using the pointing modules 610L and 61 OR. In detail, when the first switch SW1 of the switch key 630 is pressed during key -input mode selected using the second switch SW2 of the switch key 630, the keyboard may automatically switch from the key-input mode to pointing mode (first pointing mod e where the specific key is not used for typing).

In the above-described embodiment, the switch key 630 includes two switches S W1 and SW2. However, no switch may be included in the switch key 630. In this cas e, it can be designed such that when the switch key 630 is pressed once, the keyboard is used in pointing mode (second pointing mode) where the specific input key of the key board is not used as the preset function key and is used for typing, and when the switch key 630 is pressed again, the keyboard is used in another pointing mode (first pointing mode) where the specific input key of the keyboard is not used for typing and is used a s the preset function key.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary view illustrating the positions of hands using a keyboard similar to the keyboard of FIG. 9 where the pointing modules 610L and 610R are embe dded in the F and J keys, and FIG. 14 is an exemplary view illustrating the positions of hands using a keyboard similar to the keyboard of FIG. 10 where the pointing modules 61 OL and 61 OR are embedded in the G and H keys.

Referring to FIG. 13, the fingers of the hands are positioned like the case for a ty pical keyboard. In detail, the thumb of the left hand is placed on a space bar, and othe r fingers of the left hand are appropriately placed on the A, S, D, and F keys. The fing ers of the right hand are symmetrically placed: the thumb of the right hand is placed on another space bar, and the other fingers of the right hand are appropriately placed on t he J, K, L, and semicolon keys. In the both cases, the index fingers of the hands can be naturally placed on the pointing modules.

In the case shown in FIG.14, the index fingers of the hands should move for usin g the pointing modules 61 OL and 61 OR. That is, the index finger of the right hand sho uld move to the H key for using the pointing module 610R embedded in the H key.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views illustrating a pointing module 830 embedded in a key according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates the case whe re the key is not pressed, and FIG. 16 illustrates the case where the key is pressed.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the pointing module 830 of the current embodimen t is installed in a key cap 820 with its object glass 810 protruding through the top of the key cap 820. A pointing module cable 880 of the pointing module 830 is connected to a mouse I/O port through a hole formed in the key cap 820. The pointing module 830 is disposed in the key cap 820 as described above so t hat both pointing and typing tasks can be carried out after placing a finger on the object glass 810 of the pointing module 830. Furthermore, since the key cap 820 includes th e hole for accommodating the pointing module cable 880, the pointing module 830 can be normally used even when the key is pressed.

Reference numeral 840 denotes a spring for pushing the key cap 820 back to its original position, reference numeral 850 denotes a sliding guide 850 for the key cap 820 , reference numeral 860 denotes a key switch 860, reference numeral 870 denotes a ke y switch base in which a circuit is embedded for connecting the key switch 860 to an I/O port of a computer, and reference numeral 890 denotes a cable base for fixing the poi nting module cable 880 when the key cap 820 moves and connecting the pointing mod ule cable 880 to an I/O port of the computer.

Claims

1.

A keyboard providing a function of a pointing apparatus and having a plurality of i nput keys for typing, characterized in that at least one of the input keys comprises a poi nting module controlling displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a di splacement of an object contacting the pointing module, wherein the keyboard comprises a function key on a front side thereof for contrail ing a pointing operation.

2.

The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the pointing module is an optical pointing mod ule detecting the displacement of the object using light.

3.

The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the input keys each comprise a pointing module and the pointing modules have different displacement ratios of displac ement of the pointer to displacement of the object contacting the pointing module.

4.

The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising a switch key receiving an input for s witching between a pointing mode in which the pointing module is enabled to control th e pointer and a key-input mode in which the pointing module is disabled and inputs for t yping are received through the input keys.

5.

The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising a displacement ratio selection key u sed to select a displacement ratio of displacement of the pointer to displacement of the object contacting the pointing module.

6.

The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the displacement ratio selection key is held do wn for selecting a first displacement ratio for the pointer and is released for selecting a second displacement ratio for the pointer.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising another function key, wherein one of the two function keys comprises first and second switches configured for a right-hande d user, and the other of the two function keys comprises first and second switches confi gured for a left-handed user.

8.

A keyboard providing a function of a pointing device and having a plurality of inp ut keys for typing, characterized in that at least one of the input keys comprises a pointi ng module controlling displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a disp lacement of an object contacting the pointing module and an input through the keyboar d, wherein at least one of the input keys is assigned a predetermined function for c ontrolling a pointing operation, and the keyboard comprises a first switch key receiving an input for switching betwee n a key-input mode where the pointing module is disabled and inputs for typing are rece ived through the input keys and a first pointing mode where the pointing module is enab led to control the pointer and the predetermined function assigned to the at least one of the input keys is enabled.

9. A keyboard providing a function of a pointing device and having a plurality of inp ut keys for typing, characterized in that at least one of the input keys comprises a pointi ng module controlling displacement of a pointer on a monitor screen according to a disp lacement of an object contacting the pointing module, the keyboard comprising: a first switch key receiving an input for switching between a first pointing mode w here the pointing module is enabled to control the pointer and a predetermined function assigned to the at least one of the input keys is enabled and a key-input mode where t he pointing module and the predetermined function are disabled and inputs for typing ar e received through the input keys; and a second switch key receiving an input for switching between the key-input mode and a second pointing mode where the pointing module is enabled to control the point er and the predetermined function is disabled wherein at least one of the input keys is assigned the predetermined function for controlling a pointing operation.

10.

The keyboard of claim 8 or 9, wherein the pointing module is an optical pointing module detecting the displacement of the object using light.

1 1.

The keyboard of claim 8 or 9, wherein two or more of the input keys comprise poi nting modules, and the pointing modules have different displacement ratios of displace ment of the pointer to displacement of the object contacting the pointing module, respec tively.

12.

The keyboard of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a displacement ratio selection k ey used to select a displacement ratio of displacement of the pointer to displacement of the object contacting the pointing module.

13.

The keyboard of claim 12, wherein one of the input keys is assigned the displace ment ratio selection key, and the displacement ratio selection key is enabled in the first pointing mode.

14.

The keyboard of claim 13, wherein the displacement ratio selection key is held d own for selecting a first displacement ratio for the pointer and is released for selecting a second displacement ratio for the pointer.

15.

The keyboard of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a plurality of space bars assigne d different functions in the first pointing modes.

16.

The keyboard of claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the input keys not comprisi ng the pointing module is assigned a scroll function, and the scroll function is enabled in the first pointing mode pointing mode.

17.

The keyboard of any one of claims 8, 9, 13, and 16, wherein the assignment of t he predetermined function to at least one of the input keys for the first pointing mode is determined by a user.