Patents by Inventor Kevin F. Clancy

Kevin F. Clancy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110267756
    Abstract: A keyboard for use with a computing device. In some embodiments, the keyboard comprises a plurality of keys having upper surfaces to which a durable protective coating has been applied and legend symbols that have been etched into the upper surfaces through the durable protective coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles A. Sellers, Kevin F. Clancy, Philip Kao
  • Publication number: 20110109580
    Abstract: A touchpad for use with a computing device. The touchpad includes a touch-sensitive element, a cover layer that overlies the touch-sensitive element, and a durable protective coating that has been directly applied to an outer surface of the top layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Sellers, Kevin F. Clancy, Philip Ming-Chuan Kao
  • Patent number: 6008798
    Abstract: A method of determining an object's position and associated apparatus provides positional information in a form that may be conveniently communicated to a computer system to calculate the object's position. In a disclosed embodiment, representatively incorporated in a computer keyboard, a method of determining an object's position includes forming an optical grid of overlapping beacons and detecting reflections of the beacons produced by the object when it intersects the grid. The disclosed embodiment utilizes two focused beacons to produce the optical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Stephan A. Mato, Jr., Richard M. Knox, Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 5952998
    Abstract: A personal computer includes a flat panel or LCD display for displaying computer status information. The display includes an overlying transparent touchpad. When the touchpad is touched, appropriate signals are processed so that movements of the user's finger on the touchpad can be indicated by displaying altered images on the display that correspond to the movement of the user's finger. In this way, the user gets an immediate visual feedback through the LCD display of what changes can be or have been made by touchpad control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin F. Clancy, Steven D. Holehan
  • Patent number: 5909210
    Abstract: A method of determining an object's position and associated apparatus provides positional information in a form that may be conveniently communicated to a computer to calculate the object's position. In a preferred embodiment, representatively incorporated in a computer keyboard, a method of determining an object's position includes forming an optical grid of reflected beacons and detecting an obstruction of the reflected beacons. The preferred embodiment apparatus utilizes a single light source and a single light sensor to detect an object's position in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Knox, John R. Masters, Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 5734375
    Abstract: A method of determining an object's position and associated apparatus provides positional information in a form that may be conveniently communicated to a computer to calculate the object's position. In a preferred embodiment, representatively incorporated in a computer keyboard, a method of determining an object's position includes forming an optical grid of reflected beacons and detecting an obstruction of the reflected beacons. The preferred embodiment apparatus utilizes a single light source and a single light sensor to detect an object's position in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Knox, John R. Masters, Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 5602715
    Abstract: A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard structure having keys supported on scissored linkage arm assemblies in which, in response to closing of the computer housing lid, key return spring portions of the keyboard are shifted away from their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the scissored linkage arm assemblies and keys are permitted to retract to a storage/transport orientation in which the overall thickness of the keyboard structure is reduced by an amount essentially equal to the stroke distance of the keys. When the lid is subsequently opened, the key return spring portions are shifted back to their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the keys and scissored linkage arm assemblies are forced outwardly by the return spring portions to their extended, operative orientations above the return spring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Lempicki, Harold S. Merkel, Charles A. Sellers, Kevin F. Clancy, Matthew L. Webb
  • Patent number: 5490037
    Abstract: A notebook computer has a keyboard structure with a flexible top side portion disposed along the top side of its base housing to which the computer lid portion is secured for movement between a closed position in which the lid portion extends across and covers the top side of the base housing and the keyboard structure, and an open position in which the lid portion is generally transverse to the base housing and uncovers the keyboard structure. The flexible top side portion of the keyboard structure is linked to the computer lid portion in a manner such that when the lid portion is closed the top side portion of the keyboard structure is essentially flat and parallel to the bottom side of the base housing, and when the lid portion is opened, the top side portion of the keyboard structure is resiliently bent to an upwardly and rearwardly sloped orientation and concavely curved in an upward direction to thereby emulate the slope, curvature and typing feel of a sculpted desktop computer keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 5386091
    Abstract: A low profile keyswitch having bearing surfaces on both the inside and outside of the plunger of the keycap member is disclosed. The key switch includes a one-piece switch chimney having a cylindrical upright member, a plurality of arcuate ribs positioned coaxially inwardly of the cylindrical member along with a membrane support member. The chimney receives the cylindrical plunger between the cylindrical member and the ribs to provide bearing surfaces on the plunger closest to the keycap member actuation point to minimize friction when the keycap member is depressed offcenter thereby reducing binding of the keyswitch. A plurality of equidistance upstops are disposed on the lower-end of the plunger to reduce wobble of the keycap member in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 5168427
    Abstract: A keyboard structure is recessed within an open-topped base housing portion of a compact portable computer such as a notebook or laptop computer. Front corner portions of the keyboard structure are secured to the base housing in a manner permitting the keyboard structure to be pivoted relative to the base housing between a storage/transport orientation in which the top side of the keyboard structure is generally parallel to the bottom side of the base housing, and an ergonomically improved tilted use orientation in which the top side of the keyboard structure slopes forwardly and downwardly toward the user of the computer. With the computer opened, the keyboard may also be used in its storage/transport orientation. Compact spring biased latch assemblies are disposed within interior side surface recesses of the base housing and are operable to releasably lock the keyboard structure in a selected one of its storage/transport and tilted use orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin F. Clancy, Guntis J. Saulkalns
  • Patent number: 4876415
    Abstract: A keyboard having a plurality of rows of depressable keys whose key tops define a surface of concave profile curved about an axis. The concave profile is achieved with key tops and key stems of identical configuration by maintaining a key holder plate which carries the key stems in a concave profile. The concave profile of the key holder plate is produced by forming the plate with graduated flexibility across its width and mounting it on a substantially rigid base so that a region of the plate located midway between its edges is drawn to a position outside the plane containing the edges of the plate by means of a plurality of fasteners between the base and a plate located along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin F. Clancy
  • Patent number: 4604509
    Abstract: An elastomeric push button return element for providing enhanced tactile feedback, and a push button switch employing the return element. The return element is configured as a tubular section, a flange adapted to be restrained on a mounting surface, a radial web thinner than the wall of the tubular section joining the flange and a first end of the tubular section, a hollow frustum section joined at its large end to the second end of the tubular section, and a crown joined to the small end of the hollow frustum section and adapted to be connected to a push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin F. Clancy, Ralph J. Schneider