Mousepad With Integrated Keypad And Mouse Detector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional external keyboards are bulky and inconvenient for portable use, while existing mousepads with integrated keypads lack a seamless switching mechanism between mouse and keypad modes, limiting their functionality and usability.
Innovation Solution
A mousepad with an integrated keypad that activates only when a computer mouse is placed in a designated parking area, featuring a control unit that switches between mouse and keypad modes, along with illuminants for visual feedback, and additional functions like hotkeys and gesture recognition, allowing for efficient input switching between mouse and keypad operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate external keyboard is used for text input, then text entry functionality is provided, but the device becomes bulky and inconvenient to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a keyboard and mousepad into a single integrated device. The keyboard is embedded within the mousepad structure, allowing both text input and mouse operations to be performed on one portable device, eliminating the need to carry separate keyboards and mousepads.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device serves multiple functions: it acts as both a mousepad for mouse operations and a keyboard for text input. The control unit automatically switches between keyboard and mouse modes based on detected mouse position, enabling one device to fulfill multiple input needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an integrated keypad is always active on the mousepad, then text input capability is provided, but the surface area for mouse movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard functionality is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit automatically activates or deactivates the keyboard based on the mouse detector's determination of whether the mouse is in the parking area. This dynamic switching allows the full surface to be available for mouse movement when needed, while enabling keyboard input when the mouse is parked.
3Extent of automation
If the mouse detector continuously monitors the parking area, then automatic switching between modes is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mouse detector operates periodically rather than continuously, monitoring the parking area at intervals to determine mouse presence. This periodic monitoring approach maintains automatic mode switching capability while reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a lightweight, portable solution that supports both mouse and keypad inputs seamlessly, optimizing surface area for mouse movement and enabling efficient text entry with automatic keypad activation and deactivation based on mouse presence, enhancing user experience for occasional text input tasks.
Implementation Method 1
the mouse detector comprises an electric detection coil below the cover layer
Implementation Method 2
the illuminants comprise a number of LEDs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
It is an objective of the invention to provide a lightweight and portable peripheral device which provides support for different kinds of input into an associated computer. According to the invention this is achieved by a mousepad (2), comprising a cover layer (4) and an integrated keypad (16), the cover layer (4) having a lateral extension and an upper surface which is usable for placement of a computer mouse, wherein • the keypad (16) covers a part of said lateral extension, • in an area not covered by the keypad (16) there is a mouse parking area (26), • the mousepad (2) comprises a mouse detector (28) associated with the mouse parking area (26) and a corresponding control unit (30), and • the control unit (30) is configured such that the keypad (16) gets activated when the mouse is inside the mouse parking area (26) and gets deactivated when the mouse is outside the mouse parking area (26).