Point Stick Scroll Control for Laptop Input Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch pads in information handling systems are limited in functionality as they only allow cursor movement and not scrolling, while point sticks are underutilized, necessitating a reconfiguration of input devices to enhance their functionality for manipulating data on portable information handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A touch pad is configured as a cursor control device and a point stick is repurposed as a scroll control device, allowing users to move a cursor on the display using the touch pad and scroll data by applying pressure to the point stick, which can be located between keys on the keypad, enabling vertical, horizontal, or diagonal scrolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch pad is used for cursor control, then cursor movement is enabled, but scrolling functionality is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The touch pad is configured to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a cursor control device and a scroll control device. By detecting different types of user inputs (drag gestures for cursor movement, press gestures for scrolling), the touch pad provides both cursor control and scrolling functionality through a single device, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a point stick is included in addition to a touch pad, then input device versatility is improved, but device underutilization occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The point stick is reconfigured to serve as a scroll control device, providing a dedicated scrolling mechanism that complements the touch pad's cursor control capabilities. This allows both devices to be fully utilized with distinct, non-redundant functions, improving overall device utilization efficiency while maintaining input versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The input device functionality is segmented into distinct roles: the touch pad handles cursor control while the point stick handles scrolling. This segmentation eliminates functional overlap and ensures each device is used for its specialized purpose, thereby improving productivity through better device utilization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the point stick is repurposed as a scroll control device, then scrolling capability is added, but the device's original cursor control function is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than reducing the point stick's functionality, the invention assigns it a new specialized function (scrolling) that complements the touch pad's cursor control. The touch pad retains full cursor control capabilities while the point stick provides dedicated scrolling, creating a multi-functional input system where each device excels at its specific task without compromising the other.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system is disclosed including a display, a base coupled to the display and a keypad with a plurality of keys disposed on the base. The system further includes a touchpad located proximate the keypad and a point stick located substantially between at least two of the plurality of keys, wherein the point stick is configured to be a scroll control device. A method for manipulating information on a display of an information handling system is further disclosed herein. The method includes moving a cursor on the display using a touchpad proximate a keypad on the information handling system and scrolling the information on the display in a direction corresponding with the direction of pressure applied to a top portion of a point stick located substantially between at least two keys of the keypad.