Patent ID: 9703389
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A computer input device comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys for entering commands and characters into the computer input device; a touch sensor for detecting a touch by an object on a surface area of the plurality of keys; and an input processor coupled to both the keyboard and the touch sensor and configured to compare timing of a key press on any of the plurality of keys within the touch sensing surface area with timing of a touch on the touch sensing surface area for making mode switching decisions, the input processor configured to switch the computer input device to a mouse mode when the touch occurs prior to the key press, the input processor configured to switch the computer input device to a keyboard mode when the touch and the key press occur at approximately the same starting time, wherein the input processor stores a predetermined length of time and has a timer to measure a length of elapsed time when one of the plurality of keys is continuously touched by a single object until the touched keys are pressed, and the input processor decides whether or not the key touch is prior to the key press by comparing the measured length of elapsed time with the stored predetermined length of time.