US20110164376A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20110164376A1
Application number: US12/651,870
Authority: US
Inventors: Alain Tabasso; Guillaume Bourelly; Alexis Richard
Original assignee: Logitech Europe SA
Current assignee: Logitech Europe SA
Priority date: 2010-01-04
Filing date: 2010-01-04
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Also published as: US8294666B2; US20110163953A1; CN102133000A; CN202104496U

Abstract

A lapdesk for use with a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured to support the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lapdesk for a laptop computer. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a lapdesk with a retractable tray with multi-touch functionality.

Laptop computers now account for almost half of all computer sales. Laptop computers, as of recent, also have the same computing power and functionality of desktop computers, and provide computing power wherever desired. Further, with the increasingly popularity of laptop computers having touchpads, and smart phones and MP3 players with touchpads, users have been exposed to a new level of touch experience. With this increased exposure to touchpads, users expect more of the touch experience and touch functions associated with touchpads.

Therefore, manufactures of peripheral devices, which are configured for use with laptop computers, have a large impetus to create new peripheral devices that provide the touch experience. Specifically, a current need has arisen for a lapdesk with a touchpad to provide the added touch functions that users demand.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lapdesk for use with a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured to support the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer.

According to a specific embodiment, the touchpad includes a set of control buttons. The set of control buttons may include a power switch configured to change a power state of the laptop computer. The power state is a sleep state, an on state, or a power off state. Alternatively, the set of control buttons includes a set of volume control buttons. Alternatively, the set of control buttons includes a set of media control buttons. Alternatively, the set of control buttons includes a send button configured to initiate the sending of an electronic communication by the laptop computer. The send button is configured to operate with the circuit to send image information in the electronic communication for an image drawn on the touchpad. The electronic communication may be an e-mail.

According to another specific embodiment, the tray includes a set of backlights disposed under the set of control buttons, wherein the set of backlights is configured to backlight the set of control buttons. The set of backlights may be configured to be turned on and off by an application running on the laptop computer.

According to another specific embodiment, the touchpad is a resistive touchpad. The tray and touchpad may be detachable from the housing.

According to another specific embodiment, the circuit includes a transmitter, which is configured to wirelessly communicate with the laptop computer. Alternatively, the circuit is coupled to a wired connector, which is configured to couple to the laptop computer for transferring control signal between the circuit and the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment, a lapdesk for use with a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured to support the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer. The lapdesk further includes a paper detector coupled to the tray and to the circuit. The paper detector is configured to detect a piece of paper placed on the tray and operates with the circuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to perform a drawing operation. The drawing operation may include starting a draw program on the laptop computer, or launching a blank pallet on a draw program. The paper detector may be configured to detect the removal of a piece of paper from the touchpad. If the piece of paper is removed from the touchpad, the paper detector is configured to operate with the circuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to save a drawing drawn on the paper where the drawings is detected by the touchpad.

A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a simplified schematic of a lapdesk according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a simplified circuit diagram of a circuit that may be included in the lapdesk;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk according to one embodiment of the present;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk with an instant messenger button on a touchpad of the lapdesk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECT EMBODIMENTS THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lapdesk for a laptop computer. More specifically, the present invention provides a lapdesk with a touchpad for a laptop computer where the touchpad is configured to provide a variety of functions for the laptop computer.

FIG. 1A is a simplified schematic of alapdesk100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Lapdesk100 includes ahousing110 and atray120.Housing110 has atop112, which may be relatively flat. Top112 is configured to support a laptop computer.Housing110 also includes a bottom (not shown), which is configured to be placed on a user's lap or the like for use. The bottom ofhousing110 may be formed of a heating insulating material, such as plastic. The lapdesk is configured to operate as a heat barrier between a laptop computer placed ontop112 and a user's lap in contact with the bottom of the lapdesk.

According to one embodiment,housing110 includes a set of electrical connectors155 (seeFIG. 1B, which is described below in detail), which are configured to connect the lapdesk to a laptop computer. The set of electrical connectors may include a wire connector that is configured for Universal Serial Bus (USB) communications, Firewire communications, or the like.Housing110 may also include a wireless transceiver160 (seeFIG. 1B), which is configured to wirelessly communicate with a laptop computer. The wireless transceiver may be configured to communicate via a variety of wireless communication protocols such as a Bluetooth format, a Home RF format, or the like.

According to one embodiment,tray120 is configured to be pulled out from, and inserted into, aslot125 inhousing110. The housing protects the tray when the tray is not in use and is in the fully inserted position. According to a specific embodiment,tray120 may be configured to be removed fromhousing110, and may be fully detachable from the housing. The housing and/or the tray may include various latching mechanism for holding the tray in the housing with the tray in a fully retracted position. The housing and/or tray may also include various coupling mechanism to hold the tray at a relatively fixed position if the tray is partially pulled out from the housing as shown inFIG. 1A. The tray may be configured for placing a mouse or the like thereon for use with a laptop computer, which is used with the lapdesk.

According to one embodiment,tray120 includes atouchpad127.Touchpad127 is configured for use as a human interface device (HID) with a laptop computer, which is in communication with the lapdesk. According to an alternative embodiment,touchpad127 is integrated on the top of the lapdesk.

FIG. 1B is a simplified circuit diagram of acircuit150 that may be included inlapdesk100.Circuit150 may be inhousing110 or may be intray120.Circuit150 may include the set ofelectrical connectors155,wireless transceiver160, aprocessor165, a power source170 (battery, rechargeable battery, etc.), apower switch175, andtouchpad127. The set ofelectrical connectors155,wireless transceiver160, processor165 (e.g., a microprocessor),power source170, andtouchpad127 may each be communicatively coupled to the processor. In some embodiments, if the lapdesk includes a wireless transceiver, the lapdesk might not include the set of electrical connectors. Similarly, if the lapdesk includes the set of electrical connectors, the lapdesk might not include the wireless transceiver. According to an alternative embodiment,circuit150 does not include the power source, and is configured to draw power from a laptop computer via the set of electrical connectors.Processor165 is configured to control communication between the touchpad and a laptop computer in communication with the touchpad. Specifically,processor165 may collect signals from the touchpad, formulate the collected signals into control signals, and control the transmission of the control signals to the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment,power switch175 is configured to power on the lapdesk by supplying power frompower source170 tocircuit150.Power switch175 is a user operable switch and may be disposed on the bottom of the lapdesk. Alternatively, power switch is configured to detect that the tray is pulled from the housing and power oncircuit150. The power switch may also be configured to detect that the tray is pushed fully back into the housing to power offcircuit150. According to an embodiment in which the lapdesk does not includepower source170,circuit150 might not includepower switch175. The circuit may be powered on by connecting the set of electrical connectors to the laptop computer, and may be powered off by disconnecting the set of electrical connectors from the laptop computer. According to another embodiment, the power source may include rechargeable batteries that may be charged by connecting the set of electrical connectors to the laptop computer.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic oflapdesk100 according to one embodiment of the present invention and showstray120 in further detail. According to one embodiment,tray120 includes a set ofcontrol buttons200. The set of control buttons may be integrally formed withtouchpad127 and may be independent of the touchpad. For example, the set of control buttons may be “touch” buttons or may be “click” buttons. A touch button may be touched with little or no pressure to activate the touch button. A click button may be pressed on with a threshold force to activate (or click) the click button.

The set of control buttons may include a power button200a. Power button200amay be configured to power down or power up a laptop computer, or put a laptop computer in a “sleep” mode. A sleep mode, as is well known in the art, is a low power consumptions mode, which has a relatively fast “wake” time.

The set ofcontrol buttons200 may also include various volume control buttons200b,200c, and200d, which are configured to control the volume output from a set of speakers of a laptop computer. Volume control button200bmay be configured to raise the volume of the speakers. Volume control button200cmay be configured to lower the volume of the speakers. Volume control button200dmay be configured to mute the volume of the speakers. The set of control buttons may be configured to be backlighted by a set of backlights (e.g., LEDs)205 (seeFIG. 1B) disposed under the touchpad.Lapdesk100 may include an independent switch210 that is configured to turn on and off the set of backlights. The switch may be a user controlled switch or may be a light activated switch, which may be configured to turn the backlights on and off dependent on the ambient light where the lapdesk is used. Alternatively, the set of backlights may be configured to be turned on and off via a program operating on the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the touchpad is a resistive touchpad.Touchpad120 may be configured as a human input device having the capabilities of conventional computer mouse, trackball, etc. For example, the touchpad may be configured to control movement of a pointer or other graphical object displayed on the laptop computer's monitor as a user drags a finger, a stylus, a pen, etc. across the touchpad. The touchpad may be configured to be tapped to select a graphical object, such as selecting a graphical object for dragging or selecting a screen button for activation. The touchpad may be configured to be double tapped to perform other functions. Depending on the particular application operating on the laptop computer, the touchpad may be configured to control scrolling, panning, zooming, and rotating images on the laptop computer's display. For example, if a menu is displayed on the laptop computer's display, moving a finger left or right on the touchpad may cause the touchpad to control left or right navigation through the menu. Up or down movement of a finger on the touchpad may cause the touchpad to control up or down navigation through the menu. Those of skill in the art will recognize other functions that the touchpad may perform in combination with other programs operating on a laptop computer.

As shown inFIG. 3,touchpad127 may be configured for use as a drawing pad according to one embodiment of the invention. The touchpad may be configured to detect an object300 (e.g., a stylus) moving305 across the surface of the touchpad. The touchpad may be configured to operate in combination withcircuit150 to send control signals to a drawing program operating on the laptop computer. According to one embodiment, the laptop computer's display is configured to display the movement of an object across the touchpad as the user “draws” on the touchpad. The touchpad may be configured to detect different pressure applied to the touchpad. In a drawing mode, the touchpad andcircuit150 may be configured to change the line width of a line being drawn on the laptop computer's display based on the pressure detected by the touchpad. For example, high pressure may be detected for drawing thick lines, whereas lower pressure might be detected for drawing narrow lines.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the touchpad includes a paper clip mechanism (not shown) that is configured to hold the paper on the touchpad. According to this embodiment, the paper detector is configured to detect a piece of paper in the paper clip mechanism. The paper detector may be configured to detect mechanical movement of the paper clip mechanism or may be configured to measure an optical feature of the paper clip mechanism. The mechanical or optical features are modified unambiguously when paper is inserted into the paper clip mechanism. When paper is detected the paper clip mechanism, the draw program may be started, or initialized with a blank pallet.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the tray includes a pattern of dots (e.g., an Anoto™ pattern) on the top surface of the tray. According to one embodiment, an electronic pen configured to detect the pattern of dots may be used to “write” on the tray and store the writing or drawing performed on the tray based on the pattern of dots. According to one embodiment, the pattern of dots may be on an overlay (e.g., a sheet of plastic or the like) that is configured to be positioned on the tray. According to one embodiment, the pattern of dots is not visible to the human eye, but is detectable by a pen configured to detect the dots. Such an overlay might be used with a scratch-n-scroll feature of the tray to allow for storage of the writing or drawings on the laptop computer.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the lapdesk. The lapdesk is configured to operate with a messaging application operating on the laptop computer. The touchpad may be configured to transfer writing (e.g., E-mc2) that has been written touchpad to the laptop computer. The touchpad may include a “send”button400, which when pressed is configured to direct the laptop computer to send an electronic message, which includes the writing transferred to the laptop computer. The electronic message may be an e-mail message, an SMS message, or the like.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example, the touchpad has been described above as a resistive touchpad, however, the touchpad may be a capacitive touchpad, or may include capacitive and resistive detection circuits. Further, while the computer described herein is referred to as a laptop computer, the computer may be a netbook computer, a palmtop computer, or the like. Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A lapdesk for use with a laptop computer comprising:

a housing having a top configured to support a laptop computer and the housing being configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing;

a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon, wherein the tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing; and

a circuit coupled to the touchpad, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer.

2. The lapdesk ofclaim 1, wherein the touchpad includes a set of control buttons.

3. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a power switch configured to change a power state of the laptop computer.

4. The lapdesk ofclaim 3, wherein the power state is a sleep state, an on state, or a power off state.

5. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a set of volume control buttons.

6. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a set of media control buttons.

7. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a send button configured to initiate the sending of an electronic communication by the laptop computer.

8. The lapdesk ofclaim 7, wherein the send button is configured to operate with the circuit to send image information for an image drawn on the touchpad in the electronic communication.

9. The lapdesk ofclaim 8, wherein the electronic communication is an email.

10. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the tray includes a set of backlights disposed under the set of control buttons and the set of backlights is configured to backlight the set of control buttons.

11. The lapdesk ofclaim 2, wherein the set of backlights is configured to be turned on and off by an application running on the laptop computer.

12. The lapdesk ofclaim 1, wherein the touchpad is resistive touchpad.

13. The lapdesk ofclaim 1, wherein the tray is detachable from the housing.

14. The lapdesk ofclaim 1, wherein the circuit includes a transmitter, which is configured to wirelessly communicate with the laptop computer.

15. The lapdesk ofclaim 1, wherein in the circuit is coupled to a wired connector, which is configured to couple to the laptop computer for transferring control signal between the circuit and the laptop computer.

16. A lapdesk for a laptop computer comprising:

a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon, wherein the tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing;

a circuit coupled to the touchpad, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer; and

a paper detector coupled to the tray and to the circuit, wherein the paper detector is configured to detect a piece of paper placed on the tray and operate with the circuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to perform a drawing operation.

17. The lapdesk ofclaim 16, herein the drawing operation includes starting a draw program on the laptop computer.

18. The lapdesk ofclaim 16, herein the drawing operation includes launching a blank pallet on a draw program on the laptop computer.

19. The lapdesk ofclaim 16, the paper detector is configured to detect the removal of a piece of paper from the touchpad and operate with the circuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to save a drawing drawn on the paper and detected by the touchpad.