Abstract:
A computer input device including a keyboard with built in pointing device, and left- and right-pointer control buttons operable by the thumbs includes additional left- and right-pointer control buttons located to each side for easy operation by the outer edge of the hands.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to the following U.S. Patent Applications, all filed May 22, 1998 and assigned to the International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y.: “Keyboard/Wrist Rest Having Third Button for Multimode Operation,” Ser. No. 09/083,639, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,390, issued Feb. 13, 2001; “Wrist Rest Having Buttons Positioned for Thumbs While Typing,” Ser. No. 09/083,523; “Two-Handed Scrolling Mode Switch,” Ser. No. 09/083,774; and “Two-Handed Scrolling Mode Switch,” Ser. No. 09/538,315, filed Mar. 30, 2000, which is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/083,774, and claims priority from May 22, 1998. The disclosures of each of the preceding applications are incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth as of May 22, 1998. This application is also related to the following U.S. Patent Application, also assigned to the International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.: “Wrist Rest Cursor Control System,” Ser. No. 08/568,103, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/429,753, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to information processing systems, and more specifically, to keyboard-related control buttons used with graphical user interfaces to information processing systems. The invention has a particular applicability to IBM® keyboards, computers, and the IBM ThinkPad® notebook computer. (IBM and ThinkPad are registered trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation.) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many computer keyboards, both those that stand alone and those that are built in, such as in notebook computers, include pointing devices. The keyboards of many IBM computers include a TrackPoint® pointing device (TrackPoint is a registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation) located between keys above the space bar. Such computers include control buttons for selecting a displayed object pointed to by a displayed pointer controlled by the pointing device, for example, the left- and the right-pointer buttons. The control buttons are often located along an edge of the keyboard for operation by the thumbs while typing and while using the pointing device. In other cases the control buttons are located in a wrist rest which forms part of the keyboard or the notebook computer. But in any case the buttons are intended for operation by the thumbs or sometimes the finger tips. 
     For many users it would be more natural—and when the user suffers a repetitive stress injury, more comfortable—to operate a control button using the distal edge of either hand. But that is not possible with the centrally located, thumb operable control buttons now used on most computers having built in pointing devices. 
     What is needed is a set of control buttons operable by the outer edge of either hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This need, and others that will become apparent, is met by the present invention which adds an additional left- and right-control button along the edge of the keyboard and in the wrist rest area of a notebook computer. These additional control buttons duplicate the functions of the thumb operable buttons and are located and shaped such that they are natural and easy to use while typing and while using the finger tips to control the built in keyboard positioning device. The user simply presses down on the additional key with the outer edge near the heel of the hand. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a keyboard having buttons positioned for operation by an outside edge of the hand. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a stand-alone keyboard having buttons positioned for operation by an outside edge of the hand. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an edge region portion of the keyboards of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4A is a partial front view of a button shape preventing accidental dislodgment. 
     FIG. 4B is a partial front view of a specific embodiment of two buttons as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4C is a partial front view showing another button shape preventing accidental dislodgment. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a notebook computer wrist rest having buttons positioned for operation by an outside edge of the hand. 
    
    
     This application incorporates by reference the full disclosures of four patent applications claiming priority from May 22, 1998 as set forth in detail in the section entitled “Related Applications” at the beginning of this specification. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a partial plan view of a computer input device, designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The input device  10  includes a keyboard  12 , a space bar  14 , a pointing device  16 , a keyboard edge region  18 , a portion  20  of the edge region located adjacent the space bar, and operational buttons  22 - 28  disposed within the edge region portion  20 . The operational buttons  24 ,  26  correspond to a left-button and a right-button, respectively, of a standard two-button pointing device. Buttons  22  and  28  are located for ease of use by a distal edge or heel of a hand while typing. Though not illustrated, the input device  10  also includes circuits for electrically connecting the keyboard  12 , the pointing device  16 , and the operational buttons  22 - 28  to an electronic assembly such as a computer or other information processing system component. 
     In a specific embodiment, the edge region  18  forms a border surrounding the keyboard, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plan view of the input device  10 . As shown in FIG. 2, the input device  10  includes a cable  30  and connector  32  for electrically connecting the input device to a computer or other information processing system component. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an edge region portion  20  forming a curved surface which curves downward away from the plane of the keyboard  12 . Each of the operational buttons  22 - 28  defines an operating surface which conforms with the curvature of the edge region portion  20 . In a specific embodiment, the operational buttons  22 - 28  are operable by pressing the button operating surface in any direction. Pressing downward, as indicated by the direction of arrow  34  for example, will operate the button  24 . Pressing at an oblique angle, as indicated by the direction of the arrow  36 , will operate the button  24 . Pressing forward parallel to the plane of the keyboard, as indicated by the direction of the arrow  38 , will operate the button  24 . Such buttons are operable by applying a force normal to any portion of the button operating surface. 
     FIGS. 4A,  4 B, and  4 C are partial front views of the edge region portion  20  illustrating a variety of button shapes and conforming edge region portion openings. 
     FIG. 4A illustrates a trapezoidal button shape in which the width of the button increases as the button operating surface follows the curve of the edge region portion in a downward direction. Note in particular that an upward force (arrow  40 ) applied along the lower edge of the button will cause the inwardly sloping side edges of the button to wedge (arrows  42 ) against the corresponding side edges of the opening, thus preventing the button from being accidentally dislodged from its protective covering  20 . 
     FIG. 4B illustrates straight-edged buttons  24 ,  26  which, though pleasing in appearance and operating satisfactorily, do not provide protection against accidental dislodgment. 
     FIG. 4C illustrates an alternative to the trapezoidal shape. Here the button  28  is wider at the lower front edge than at the top, and provides protection against accidental dislodgment. An upward force (arrow  44 ) applied along the lower edge of the button will cause a ledge of the button to wedge (arrows  46 ) against an overhang of the opening, preventing an accidental dislodgment of the button  28  from its protective covering  20 . 
     Finally, FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the computer input device  10 , illustrating an edge region portion  20  which has been extended to provide a wrist rest area. The two buttons  22 ,  28  are positioned for operation by a distal edge of the heel of the hand while typing and while using the finger-tip control pointing device  16 . In a specific embodiment, the input device  10  forms a stand-alone keyboard device having a wrist rest area. The stand-alone device includes a cable and connector ( 30  and  32  of FIG. 2) for making an electrical connection between the keyboard, the pointing device and the buttons and a computer or other information processing system component. In a different specific embodiment, the input device  10  forms a portion of a portable computer or other information processing system component. 
     While the invention has been described in relation to the embodiments shown in the accompanying Drawing figures, other embodiments, alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the Specification be exemplary only, and that the true scope and spirit of the invention be indicated by the following Claims.