Abstract:
A laptop computer includes a wireless pointer device which is located within the base of the laptop. In an exemplary embodiment, the pointer device is an infrared mouse designed to fit within a cradle mechanism. In one example, the cradle mechanism is located centered and below the keyboard and may be inserted in, and replace, the space generally used for the touch-pad surface of a touchpad pointer system. The mouse is recharged when engaged with the cradle mechanism. The cradle mechanism may be selectively opened to release the wireless mouse or pointer device for use in interacting with the laptop computer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to information processing systems and more particularly to a methodology and implementation for a laptop computer which includes a pointer device housed in a pointer compartment within the laptop computer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Current onboard pointing systems for laptop computers are not comfortable for all laptop computer users. Current pointers include, inter alia, the use of a mini-joystick in the middle of the keyboard and the use of a touch-pad and switching buttons below the keyboard. Many users prefer the use of a standard external mouse device. However, the use of an external mouse requires a port connection, even for wireless models. Further, mouse units require storage separate from the laptop and are cumbersome to bring along when a user is carrying the laptop from one location to another.  
         [0003]     Thus, there is a need for an improved methodology and system in which a mouse or other pointer device can be carried integrally with the laptop computer and easily removed to enable user interaction with the laptop.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A laptop computer includes a wireless pointer device or unit which is located within the base of the laptop. In an exemplary embodiment, the pointer device is an infrared and/or radio frequency mouse designed to fit within a cradle mechanism within a laptop computer. In one example, the cradle mechanism is located centered and below the keyboard and may be inserted into, and replace, the space generally used for a touch-pad surface of a touch-pad pointer system. The mouse is automatically recharged when it is housed within the cradle mechanism. The cradle mechanism, in addition to the charging feature, is designed to snuggly hold the mouse unit to prevent movement of the mouse unit while the laptop is being carried. The cradle mechanism may be selectively opened to release the wireless mouse or pointer device for use in interacting with the laptop computer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of one embodiment of computer system in which the present invention may be implemented;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an illustration showing an exemplary embodiment of a wireless pointer device which may be used in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a laptop computer keyboard area and a front panel showing an exemplary mouse cradle mechanism, a cradle release button and an Infrared (IR) communication system for use with the wireless mouse unit;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the front panel area of the keyboard area showing the cradle mechanism extended away from the laptop and the mouse device and recharging system within the cradle mechanism; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view of the front panel of the laptop computer and the wireless mouse removed from the cradle mechanism and in position to interface with the IR communication port of the laptop computer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     It is noted that circuits and devices which are shown in block form in the drawings are generally known to those skilled in the art, and are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0012]     As used herein, the terms “mouse”, “mouse-type device”, “mouse unit”, “pointer” and/or “pointer device” are all used interchangeably in a generic sense and include any input device which may be coupled (either by wire or wirelessly) to a computer system to enable input to, and output from, the coupled computer system.  
         [0013]     In  FIG. 1 , a laptop system processor  101  is connected to a system bus  103 . A system memory  105 , a diskette drive  107 , a CD drive  109 , a network interface  111 , a storage system  113 , and a video subsystem  117  including a display device  119  are also coupled to the system bus  103  in the illustrated example. As shown, a wireless system interface  121  is arranged to be coupled  123  to a wireless pointer device  125 .  
         [0014]     In an exemplary embodiment, an infrared (IR) technology is implemented to couple  123  the wireless pointer device  125  to the system interface  121 . Radio frequency systems may also be used to implement the wireless coupling  123  between the wireless pointer or mouse  125  and the system interface  121 . Other components may also be coupled to the system bus  103  but are not specifically shown in  FIG. 1  for the sake of clarity. For example, a battery or other power source supply means is also connected to the system bus  103  in order to enable a charging of a connected wireless pointer device as is hereinafter discussed in greater detail.  
         [0015]     An exemplary embodiment of the pointer or mouse  125  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown, the mouse  125  includes a wireless interface control  201  for enabling the coupling  123  the mouse to the laptop system interface  121 . The mouse  125  also includes and a switching control unit  203 . The switching control unit  203  is designed to detect and transmit mouse “clicks” or user actuations of the push-button switches on the mouse device  125  to the wireless system interface  121 . Also included within the mouse unit  125  is a battery or rechargeable power source  205  and a recharge terminal  207 . In the illustrated example, the pointer recharge terminal  207  of the mouse unit  125  is designed to engage with a system recharge terminal  116  from the power recharge interface  115  of the laptop computer to recharge the wireless mouse unit  125 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a laptop computer  301  includes a display  119 , and a base unit including a keyboard area  303  and a front panel  305 . In the present example, a mouse cradle unit or platform  311  is arranged within a housing structure or cradle compartment  309  in the from panel  305  of a laptop computer  301 . The cradle may be released from the laptop housing by actuating the release button  307  which is also located in the front panel. The cradle is selectively released and moves to an open position in a manner similar to the releasing of a CD drive platform. The cradle release button  307  is designed to prevent unintentional releasing of the mouse cradle  311 . This may be accomplished in many ways including making the release button concave or indented relative to the surface of the front panel  305 . An IR port  121  is also shown mounted on the front panel  305  of the laptop computer  301 . The IR port  121  is arranged to interface  123  with the wireless pointer  125  when the pointer  125  is removed from the pointer cradle  311  and placed in an appropriate position relative to the IR port  121 .  
         [0017]     It is noted that, although the preferred embodiment includes a slidable or ejectable cradle platform, the cradle housing structure may also comprise a non-movable cradle compartment within the base unit which has a slide-up hatch or door (not shown) to enable the placement for storage and/or charging of the wireless pointer device within the base unit pointer compartment or housing. The access door to the pointer compartment may also be lockable, in one embodiment, in any of many available locking schemes including thumbwheel combination locks, so that only one or more selected users have access to the wireless pointer device.  
         [0018]     In  FIG. 4 , a top view of the laptop keyboard area  303  of the preferred embodiment illustrates a release of the cradle assembly  311  away from the base unit front panel  305  into an open position. In the open position, the cradle assembly or cradle mechanism  311  is extended away from the base unit to enable the placing of the wireless pointer  125  within the cradle  311 . The cradle mechanism is designed to include the system recharge terminal  116  such that when the wireless pointer is placed within the cradle  311 , the system recharge terminal  116  is connected to the pointer recharge terminal  207  of the wireless pointer  125  to recharge the pointer unit  125 . The cradle assembly or mechanism  311  is also designed, by contouring and shaping the bed of the cradle assembly to firmly hold the pointer unit  125  so as to prevent movement of the pointer unit when the laptop computer is being moved or carried. Other cradle designs may also be implemented to accomplish the function of securing the wireless pointer in place when it is stored in the cradle mechanism. When the cradle release button  307  is depressed and the cradle assembly  311  is released from within the laptop computer base unit, the pointer may be placed within the cradle  311  and connected to the recharge terminal  116 , and the cradle assembly may then be closed to a position within the laptop computer base ( FIG. 3 ) when the pointer is not being used. When a user is ready to use the laptop, the cradle release button  307  is actuated, and the cradle assembly opens to a position where the wireless pointer  125  is disengaged from the recharge terminal  116  and removed from the cradle assembly. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cradle assembly may then be closed back to its position within the laptop computer after the pointer has been removed. The wireless pointer  125  is then placed in a position where the pointer is able to communicate  123  with the laptop computer through the IR port  121 . When a user is finished using the wireless pointer device  125 , the pointer device  125  may be replaced within the cradle assembly  311  for recharging and/or “on-board” secure storage while the laptop is moved to a different location.  
         [0019]     The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of sequences to accomplish the desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art, and even included or integrated into a processor or CPU or other larger system integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also be implemented partially in program code stored on a CD, disk or diskette (portable or fixed), or other memory device, from which it may be loaded into memory and executed to achieve the beneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. On the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.