(19)
`
`(12)
`
`Europaisches Patentamt
`European Patent Office
`Office europeen des brevets
`peen des brevets
`
`(1 }
`
`E P 0 5 1 5 6 6 4 B 1
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT S P E C I F I C A T I O N
`
`(45) Date of publication and mention
`of the grant of the patent:
`17.03.1999 Bulletin 1999/11
`
`(21) Application number: 92902945.2
`
`(22) Date of filing: 16.12.1991
`
`(51) intci.6: G06F 1/16, G06F 3/02
`
`(86) International application number:
`PCT/US91/09448
`
`(87) International publication number:
`WO 92/11623 (09.07.1992 Gazette 1992/17)
`
`(54) LAPTOP COMPUTER HAVING INTEGRATED KEYBOARD, CURSOR CONTROL DEVICE AND
`PALM REST
`TRAGBARES RECHNERSYSTEM MIT INTEGRIERTER TASTATUR, CURSORSTEUERGERAT
`UND HANDTELLERLEHNE
`ORDINATEUR PORTATIF A CLAVIER, DISPOSITIF DE COMMANDE DE CURSEUR ET
`REPOSE-PAUME INTEGRES
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`DE FR GB IT
`
`(30) Priority: 18.12.1990 US 629263
`
`(43) Date of publication of application:
`02.12.1992 Bulletin 1992/49
`
`(73) Proprietor: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
`Cupertino, California 95014 (US)
`
`(72) Inventor: KRAKOWER, Jonathan
`Cupertino, California (US)
`
`(74) Representative: Wombwell, Francis
`Potts, Kerr & Co.
`15, Hamilton Square
`Birkenhead Merseyside L41 6BR (GB)
`
`(56) References cited:
`EP-A- 393 846
`US-A- 4 712 101
`US-A- 4 974 183
`US-A- 5 021 771
`
`DE-U-8 716 224
`US-A- 4 736 191
`US-A- 4 978 949
`
`• IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol.
`33, no. 1 1 , April 1 991 , NEW YORK US page 255
`'INPUT DEVICE FOR OS/2'
`• IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol.
`29, no. 7, December 1986, NEW YORK US page
`3110 'SPLIT KEYBOARD'
`• IEEE MICRO, vol. 7, no. 2, April 1987, NEW YORK
`US pages 8 - 14 , XP5657 KEN SAKAMURA 'THE
`TRON PROJECT'
`
`DO
`^ -
`CO
`CO
`lO
`l o
`o
`a .
`LU
`
`Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
`notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in
`a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
`99(1) European Patent Convention).
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`PGR2023-00016 - Home Depot
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`1
`
`EP 0 515 664 B1
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`2
`
`Description
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of
`computer systems. More particularly, the present inven-
`tion relates to a laptop computer having an integrated
`keyboard, cursor control device and palm rest.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] Laptop computers are presently designed with
`a keyboard and a display all in one package. The key-
`board is mounted next to the front edge of the laptop
`computer and the display is usually rotatably hinged to
`the housing which contains the keyboard, with most of
`the hardware for the laptop computer being contained
`in the same housing. A few laptop computers also in-
`clude a built-in cursor control device, which is separate
`from the keyboard but part of the laptop computers
`housing; the cursor control device is typically mounted
`to the left or right of the keyboard (although an isopoint
`cursor control device is often mounted below the space-
`bar of the keyboard), and the keyboard is again next to
`the front edge of the laptop computer. The cursor control
`device allows the user to control the position of a cursor
`or pointer on the display screen of the computer. It is
`often expeditious to use a cursor control device where,
`for example, the user is required to repetitively choose
`software options displayed on the display or may desire
`to input data in a graphics format into the computer sys-
`tem (e.g. drawing images on the computers display).
`[0003] One prior type of a cursor control device is
`commonly referred to as a "mouse" which is shown in
`U. S. Pat. No. 4,464,652. Such mouse is a small hand-
`held box-like device which is coupled to the computer
`system by a cable and placed adjacent to the keyboard.
`The mouse contains a domed portion housing a ball
`which is free to rotate within the dome against a smooth
`and flat surface, which is typically a desktop. The oper-
`ation of the mouse thus requires a flat, smooth surface
`(next to the keyboard of the computer) over which the
`mouse can move in an X direction, a Y direction or a
`combination of both. The ball rotates accordingly as the
`mouse moves in the X-Y directions. The rotation of the
`ball is then interpreted as an X-Y movement of the cur-
`sor on the display. The movement of the mouse with re-
`spect to the surface is thus parroted by the cursor on
`the display. A switch is provided on the mouse in order
`to signal to the computer, when the switch is pressed by
`the user, that a desired location of the cursor on the dis-
`play has been selected. The combination of moving the
`mouse to point (with the cursor) to an image on the dis-
`play screen and pressing the switch (with its normal au-
`dible and tactile feedback) while the cursor is pointing
`to the image to select the image is referred to as "point-
`and-click." The use of the point-and-click approach for
`controlling a computer is very effective and very "user
`
`5
`
`is
`
`friendly."
`[0004] While the mouse of the type described is sat-
`isfactory for many applications, it has been found that
`disadvantages are associated with a mouse which is
`separate from the keyboard of a computer system. This
`is especially so in the case of laptop computers.
`[0005] One prior disadvantage associated is that
`when using the mouse, the user must stop his or her
`hand operation on the keyboard and move his or her
`10 hand from the keyboard to grasp the mouse. This some-
`times also requires that the user's eyes be shifted from
`the display to aid in the grasping of the mouse. The
`mouse is then pushed by the user's hand to move over
`the surface until the cursor reaches the desired spot on
`the display. The user then removes his or her hand from
`the mouse and must find the proper position for the hand
`on the keyboard to begin typing operations again. In
`many applications (e.g., word processing) the operation
`of the mouse results in a substantial loss in convenience
`20 and efficiency due io ihe diversion of the user's attention
`from the keyboard.
`[0006] Another prior disadvantage associated is that
`when using the mouse, the surface over which the
`mouse must move is an essential part of the system. At
`times, portable computers are placed on the lap of the
`user and no such surface for the mouse is available.
`Thus, the mouse cannot be properly used with the com-
`puter while it is lap-mounted or in cases where no adja-
`cent surface is available for operating the mouse.
`[0007] Moreover, as a portable computer may be
`used in a laptop environment, for example by the user
`in a taxi cab where no base is available to place the port-
`able computer except the user's lap, nothing is available
`for the user's palms or wrists to rest against. The con-
`35 ventional portable computer keyboard, placed close to
`the front edge, also does not provide the resting base
`for the user's palms or wrists. When a conventional port-
`able computer is used for a period of time on a user's
`lap, the user is unable to support and rest the palms or
`40 wrists on something and is unable to extend the arms
`away from the body to reduce muscle tension. During
`the period of using the computer in such an environ-
`ment, the user experiences a great deal of muscle fa-
`tigue in the arms and shoulders.
`[0008] Because of these and other disadvantages as-
`sociated with the conventional off-keyboard mouse, a
`need, which has previously remained unsatisfied, has
`existed for an arrangement having combined keyboard,
`palm rest and cursor control device which allows for the
`so advantages of a mouse while allowing the hands to re-
`main on the keyboard and without requinng a flat work
`surface of the type required for the off-keyboard mouse.
`[0009] A number of prior art approaches are known
`for including a cursor positioning device onto a key-
`55 board. One such prior art approach is shown in U.S. Pat-
`ent No. 4,736,191, which describes a keyboard having
`a touchpad which serves as a cursor positioning device,
`where the touchpad is positioned immediately below the
`
`25
`
`30
`
`45
`
`2
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`3
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`EP 0 515 664 B1
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`4
`
`space bar of the keyboard (which is separate from the
`computer) so that the touchpad can be accessed by the
`thumb of the user without requiring the user to move his
`or her hand from the keyboard. However, these prior art
`approaches fail to disclose the desired ergonomic con-
`figuration of the integrated keyboard, cursor control de-
`vice (with switches) and palm rest in a laptop computer.
`[0010] Also, many of the prior art approaches still re-
`quire that the user's eyes be shifted and hands be
`moved to manipulate the cursor positioning device.
`These prior art approaches may be found in the follow-
`ing references:
`
`1. US Design Patent No. 285,201, issued August
`19, 1986 for KEYBOARD INCLUDING TRACK-
`BALL;
`2. US Design Patent No. 291,574, issued August
`25, 1987 for KEYBOARD INCLUDING TRACK-
`BALL;
`3. US Design Patent No. 292,289, issued October
`13, 1987 for ELECTRONIC COMPUTER;
`4. US Patent No. 4, 670,743 issued June 2, 1987
`for KEYBOARD CURSOR CONTROLLER;
`5. US Patent No. 4,712,101 issued December 8,
`1987 for CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELEC-
`TRONIC APPARATUS;
`6. US Patent No. 4,736,191, issued April 5, 1988
`for TOUCH ACTIVATED CONTROL METHOD AND
`APPARATUS;
`7. US Patent No. 4,823,634, issued April 25, 1989
`for MULTIFUNCTION TACTILE MANIPULATABLE
`CONTROL;
`8. US Patent No. 4,896,554, issued January 30,
`1990 for MULTIFUNCTION TACTILE MANIPULAT-
`ABLE CONTROL;
`9. German Patent Application No. DE-3045133,
`published January 7, 1982 for CURSOR INPUT
`CONTROL FOR VDU;
`10. Japanese Patent Application No. 59-94133,
`published May 30, 1984 for DOCUMENT AND FIG-
`URE GENERATING DEVICE; and
`11. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 27, No.
`10B, pp.6299-6305; March 1985 for MOUSE/KEY-
`BOARD CONCEPT INCORPORATING UNIQUE
`DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING CRT DISPLAY
`CURSORS.
`12. European Patent Application No. 393,846 pub-
`lished October 24, 1990 for HANDLE LATCH AS-
`SEMBLY.
`
`[0011] These prior art approaches fail to allow the us-
`er to practice the "point and click" approach (e.g. US
`Patent No. 4,736, 1 91 does not provide a switch with the
`cursor positioning touchpad) while also allowing the us-
`er to keep his hands on the keyboard and to rest his
`palms on the palm rest of the laptop computer. Moreo-
`ver, the prior art does not give the user the option of
`pressing a switch closest to the keyboard (to click/select
`
`5
`
`10
`
`is
`
`an image on the display screen) with either thumb while
`the other thumb moves a trackball and while the user's
`hands remain positioned over the keyboard. Further-
`more, the prior art systems do not include two separate
`switches (covered by contoured buttons to give the user
`tactile feedback to help the user locate the switches
`without looking), one switch being closest to the key-
`board and often best suited for word processing appli-
`cations, and the other switch being located below the
`trackball and often best utilized for detail-intensive cur-
`sor positioning using one hand (e.g. index finger oper-
`ating trackball while thumb of same hand operates
`switch) such as the drawing of graphics on the computer
`system.
`It is an aim of the present invention to provide
`[0012]
`a sophisticated economically designed laptop compu-
`ter having enough space for a palm rest so that the us-
`er's hands/palms can be rested while using the key-
`board on the user's lap, allowing the user to extend their
`20 arms away from the body in a more relaxed state, there-
`by reducing muscle fatigue in the user's arms and shoul-
`ders.
`In view of the limitations of known systems and
`[0013]
`methods, preferred embodiments of the present inven-
`tion aim to provide a laptop computer with a combined
`keyboard, palm rest and cursor control device which
`does not require that the user's hands be removed from
`the keyboard no reach for the cursor positioning device
`while also allowing the user to practice the "point and
`30 click" approach.
`[0014] Another preferred aim is to provide a laptop
`computer with a combined keyboard, palm rest and cur-
`sor control device which provides a rest for the user's
`palms and which gives the user the option of pressing
`35 a switch closest to the keyboard with either thrumb while
`the other thumb moves a trackball and the user's hands
`are kept over the keyboard.
`
`ts
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`40
`
`[001 5] According to the present invention there is pro-
`vided a laptop computer as set forth in claim 1 appended
`hereto.
`[001 6] A laptop personal computer having an integrat-
`es ed keyboard, palm rest and cursor control device is de-
`scribed herein, in the preferred embodiment, the laptop
`personal computer includes a display screen which dis-
`plays a movable cursor and further includes a keyboard
`for inputting data into the computer, which keyboard is
`typically a standard alphanumeric key/board having
`many keys, including a bottom row of keys. A palm rest
`area, which is typically a flat surface, is adjacent to the
`bottom row of the keyboard and is adequately large to
`support the user's palms and/or wrists when typing on
`the keyboard. A cursor positioning device, typically a
`trackball, is located in a cooperating recess in the palm
`rest area. The cursor positioning device allows the user
`to move the movable cursor which is displayed on a dis-
`
`so
`
`55
`
`3
`
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`

`5
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`EP 0 515 664 B1
`
`6
`
`play screen to any point on a display screen. The laptop
`computer further comprises at least one switch means
`for initiating a particularfunction depending upon the po-
`sition of the movable cursor on a display screen when
`the switch means is activated. The combination of a cur-
`sor positioning device and at least one switch means
`provides the point and click function which gives the us-
`er the ability to control the computer by pointing (with
`the cursor) to an image on the display screen and acti-
`vating the switch means while the cursor is pointing to
`the image. The switch means, which is an electrical el-
`ement, is usually activated (e.g. change of electrical
`state of the switch) by a button means which electrically
`isolates (and hence insulates) the user from the electri-
`cal circuitry of the computer.
`In one embodiment, the laptop personal com-
`[0017]
`puter includes two switch means for initiating at least
`one signal to carry out at least one particular function
`which depends upon the position of the movable cursor
`on a display screen when either of the switch means is
`activated. These two switch means may be separate
`switches for initiating different functions or may be con-
`nected in parallel to provide one signal which carries out
`a single function. First and second button means may
`be provided for activating the first and second switch
`means respectively. The first button is located belowthe
`bottom row of the keyboard and above the cursor posi-
`tioning device. The second button which activates the
`second switch means is located below the cursor posi-
`tioning device. The cursor positioning device and the
`first and second buttons are typically substantially
`aligned along the midline of the palm rest, which midline
`is defined by a line which is centered with respect to the
`width of the palm rest. This line is typically perpendicular
`with respect to the bottom row of the keyboard and per-
`pendicular with respect to the front edge of the laptop
`computer
`[0018] The laptop includes a main housing and a dis-
`play housing. The display housing, when closed, acts
`as a cover for the computer and includes the display
`screen which displays the movable cursor. The display
`housing is rotatably coupled by a hinge to the main
`housing. The main housing contains the conventional
`electronics, such as the CPU, memory, hard disk drive
`and/or floppy disk drive, input/output circuitry, power
`supply and other standard and well known electronic cir-
`cuitry contained in laptop computers.
`[0019] The preferred embodiment provides the user
`with the option of pressing the first button which is clos-
`est to the keyboard to "click'Vselect an image on a dis-
`play screen with either thumb while the other thumb
`moves the trackball and while the user's hands are kept
`positioned over the keyboard. The contoured buttons
`which are used to activate the switches provide tactile
`feedback to the user to locate the buttons without look-
`ing. The present invention thereby allows the user to
`point to an image on a display screen and select the
`image while keeping the user's hands over the keyboard
`
`5
`
`and while continuing to look at the display screen. The
`provision of two separate buttons allows the user to use
`one button (usually the top button which is closer to the
`keyboard) for certain applications and the other button
`(the bottom button) for applications where cursor con-
`trolling intensive operations are required. In alternative
`embodiments, the two buttons may activate a single
`switch and may be either mechanically coupled or may
`be integrally formed together, as in the case of a circular
`10 button which surrounds the trackball.
`[0020] These and other features and advantages of
`the present invention provided for will be apparent from
`the accompanying drawings and from the detailed de-
`scription which follows below.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0021] The present invention is illustrated by way of
`example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of
`the accompanying drawings and in which like reference
`numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
`
`Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laptop computer
`in the raised position showing the keyboard, palm
`rest and cursor control device combination;
`Figure 2 is another perspective view of the laptop
`computer in the closed position;
`Figure 3 is a top view showing the arrangement of
`the keyboard, palm rest and cursor control device;
`Figure 4A is a sectional view of the keyboard/cursor
`control device arrangement, taken on line 4A-4A of
`Figure 3;
`Figure 4B is a sectional view of the keyboard/cursor
`control device arrangement, taken on line 4B-4B of
`Figure 3
`Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the shape
`of the upper button of the cursor control device;
`Figure 6A is a top view of the upper button shown
`in Figure 5;
`Figure 6B is a sectional view of the upper button,
`taken on line 6-6 of Figure 6A; this view shows the
`slope of the upper button;
`Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the shape
`of the lower button of the cursor control device;
`Figure 8A is a top view of the lower button shown
`in Figure 7;
`Figure 8B is a sectional view of the lower button,
`taken on line 8-8 of Figure 8A;
`Figure 9 is a side view of the laptop computer in the
`closed position.
`Figure 1 0 shows a top view of an alternative button
`means which surrounds the trackball.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0022] Referring to Figure 1 , a perspective view of a
`portable personal computer 10 is shown, including the
`keyboard, palm rest and cursor control device combina-
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`30
`
`35
`35
`
`40
`40
`
`45
`45
`
`so
`
`55
`
`4
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`7
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`EP 0 515 664 B1
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`8
`
`tion 8 of the present invention. Although computer 10
`can be any of a variety of computers, computer 1 0 in the
`present preferred embodiment is a portable computer
`and, more specifically, a laptop computer which is a sin-
`gle, integrated unit with all of its elements placed within
`one case and which is small enough to fit on a user's
`lap. Computer 1 0 includes a main housing 1 . Main hous-
`ing 1 , in the preferred embodiment, is made from injec-
`tion molded plastic material. Inside main housing 1,
`there are all the essential and well known electronic cir-
`cuitry for the computer's operation, such as CPU, mem-
`ory, hard disk drive and/or floppy disk drive, input/output
`circuitry and power supply. Such electronic circuitry for
`a laptop computer is well known; one example of a lap-
`top computer is the Macintosh Portable from Apple
`Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California, the assignee of
`the present invention.
`[0023] On top of main housing 1 is the keyboard, palm
`rest and cursor control device combination 8. The com-
`bination 8 includes a conventional keyboard 11 , a palm
`rest 9 and a cursor control device 12 (which includes a
`cursor positioning device, typically a trackball 32, and
`two switches which are actuated by two contoured, cres-
`cent shaped buttons 31 and 33). Keyboard 11 and cur-
`sor control device 1 2 allow a user to communicate with
`(e.g. input data into) computer 10. Palm rest 9 provides
`a supporting base for the user's hands to rest against
`when using keyboard 11. The combination 8 will be de-
`scribed in more detail below with reference to Figures
`3-9.
`[0024] Disposed over the keyboard, palm rest and
`cursor control device combination 8 is a display housing
`2 which contains the display screen 3. Display housing
`2 is coupled to main housing 1 by a conventional hinge
`means 7. Hinge 7 allows the display housing 2 to act as
`a cover for the main housing 1 such that, from the closed
`position (show in Figure 2), the display housing 2 can
`be opened upwards, revealing the keyboard 11, palm
`rest 9, trackball 32 and buttons 31 and 33.
`[0025] As illustrated in Figure 1 , hinge 7 extends sub-
`stantially across the width of main housing 1. In an al-
`ternative embodiment, hinge 7 can be made to extend
`completely across the width of main housing 1 . Also, dif-
`ferent types of hinges may be used with the preferred
`embodiment. The particular type of hinge arrangement
`which is used is not critical to the present invention.
`[0026] Display housing 2 includes a display unit which
`contains a display screen 3 and associated video cir-
`cuitry (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, display
`screen 3 is a liquid crystal display unit. In an alternative
`embodiment, display screen 3 can be a video monitor
`or any other well known display device. Display screen
`3 is framed on the center of the inner wall of display
`housing 2. The movable cursor 50 which is positioned
`and moved by the cursor positioning device 32 is shown
`in Figure 1 .
`[0027] Two identical support members 5A and 5B are
`placed above display screen 3. The function of the two
`
`5
`
`20
`
`support members 5A and 5B is to keep display screen
`3 from touching on keyboard 11 and cursor control de-
`vice 12 when display housing 2 is in its closed position.
`[0028] Display housing 2, when closed, covers the
`combination 8, thus protecting keyboard 11 , palm rest 9
`and cursor control device 1 2 while computer 1 0 is being
`transported. When display housing 2 is closed, display
`screen 3 is also covered and thereby protected. When
`display housing 2 is lifted upwards, display screen 3 is
`10 visible to the user.
`[0029] Display housing 2 is typically held in the closed
`position by means of a latch assembly when computer
`10 is not being used and is closed, as shown in Figure
`2. The latch assembly in the preferred embodiment in-
`15 eludes a hook element 4 on display housing 2 and a slot
`1 5 on the top surface of main housing 1 near the button
`33. When display housing 2 is closed, hook element 4
`engages with corresponding slot 15 to hold display
`housing 2 in place. To lock cover 2 in closed position, a
`force is employed to press display housing 2 downward
`so as to make hook element 4 engage in slot 15. To re-
`lease hook element 4 from slot 15, a force is employed
`to slide hook 4 out from engagement with slot 1 5 of main
`housing 1 so as to free hook element 4 from slot 1 5 and
`25 allow the display housing 2 to be raised. The hook is
`held in engagement in slot 15 by a spring. It will be ap-
`parent to those in the art that many alternative latching
`assemblies may be used to secure the display housing
`2 to the main housing 1 .
`[0030] On the right side of main housing 1 as shown
`in Figure 1 , a slot 1 3 which is part of a conventional flop-
`py disc drive is shown. Slot 1 3 allows a floppy disc to be
`inserted into the floppy disc drive. Near the back side of
`the main housing 1 are two conventional sliding controls
`35 101 and 1 02 which may be used to vary in the conven-
`tional manner the contrast and brightness (respectively)
`of the display screen 3.
`[0031] A leg 14 is also shown in Figure 1 which is ro-
`tatably attached to the rear right side wall of main hous-
`ing 1 . Leg 14 is retractable by rotating it upward so that
`the leg 14 does not extend beyond the bottom of main
`housing 1. In the presently preferred embodiment, an-
`other identical leg is also provided on the left side wall
`of main housing 1 . Each leg may be set at a down po-
`45 sition, as shown in Figure 1 with respect to the bottom
`of main housing 1 , and numerous examples in the prior
`art exist for these legs. The function of legs 14, when
`standing against a flat surface on which main housing
`1 is lying (such as desktop surface 52 shown in Figure
`so 4A), is to give the top of the main housing 1 a slight slope
`of several degrees with respect to the desktop surface
`52 when the user is operating the keyboard or the cursor
`control device (see Figures 4A, 4B and Figure 9). The
`inclined slope of the keyboard is often preferred by us-
`55 ers.
`[0032] Figure 3 shows keyboard, palm rest and cursor
`control device combination 8 with approximate dimen-
`sions on each of the various components. As is illustrat-
`
`30
`
`40
`
`5
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`9
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`EP 0 515 664 B1
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`10
`
`ed in Figure 3, combination 8 of the presently preferred
`embodiment has an overall length of approximately 1 94
`mm and width of approximately 286 mm. The keyboard
`1 1 and palm rest 9 occupy almost all of the top surface
`of the main housing 1 , with a portion of the top surface
`supporting the hinge 7 and the display housing 2. As
`shown in Figure 3, the overall width of the main housing
`I (286 mm) is the same as the width of the palm rest 9.
`In an alternative embodiment, the relative sizes of key-
`board, palm rest and cursor control device can be made
`larger or smaller (in the range of up to 25% larger or
`smaller).
`It will be recognized that making the relative
`[0033]
`sizes of the keyboard, palm rest and cursor control de-
`vice smaller by as much as 25% (or even smaller) will
`make the laptop computer more difficult to use in the
`sense that the user will have difficulty manipulating a
`smaller trackball or typing on a smaller keyboard; how-
`ever, a smaller laptop computer will be easier to carry
`and otherwise transport. It will also be recognized that
`making the relative sizes of the keyboard, palm rest and
`cursor control device larger by as much as 25% (or even
`larger) will cause the laptop computer to be more un-
`comfortable to use on the lap of the user and the com-
`puter may not fit in certain circumstances where it could
`otherwise be used (e.g. the seat of an airplane).
`[0034] Keyboard 1 1 is located on the upper end of the
`top of the main housing 1 , away from the front edge of
`the computer, and is thereby close to hinge 7. Keyboard
`II can be a conventional "QWERTY" keyboard which
`includes a large, elongated space bar key in the bottom
`row of the keyboard. In the presently preferred embod-
`iment, the dimensions of keyboard 11 are about 90 mm
`by approximately 272 mm wide. In an alternative em-
`bodiment, other types of keyboards can be employed.
`The specific type of keyboard (e.g. a "QWERTY" key-
`board) that is used is not critical to the present invention.
`[0035] The keycaps in the presently preferred embod-
`iment are slightly smaller than standard keycaps. More-
`over, the pitch spacing between the keycaps in the pres-
`ently preferred embodiment for the alphanumeric keys
`is smaller than standard pitch spacing. The vertical pitch
`spacing between adjacent keycaps is 18 mm (e.g. the
`vertical distance between centers of the keycaps "S"
`and "W" for a "QWERTY" keyboard is 18 mm) and the
`horiz