Jason T Garner

US Patent:

6501462, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Jul 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/346373

Inventors:

Jason T. Garner - Sioux City IA

Assignee:

Gateway, Inc. - Poway CA

International Classification:

G09G 508

US Classification:

345173, 345157, 178 1801

Abstract:

An input control device ( ) includes a touchpad ( ) located near an associated keyboard ( ) for use with a computer-related apparatus ( ). The touchpad ( ) is positioned so that it can be reached by the users thumbs ( ) during normal operation of the associated keyboard ( ). The location of the touchpad ( ) is such that a ridge ( ) protruding near the edge of the touchpad ( ) is encountered by the users thumbs ( ) both when moved inadvertently during normal typing operations and when intentionally moved toward the touchpad ( ). In this way, the ridge ( ) signals the boundary with the touchpad ( ) so that the user can proceed to activate it if desired, or can avoid activating it if not desired.