Abstract: A combination keyboard and pointing device is incorporated in a portable computer and includes a dielectric base member on a top side of which a spaced series of electrically conductive pad member portions of a capacitance-based proximity sensing system are formed. Manually depressible key members are positioned above the pads. With the sensing system switched to a typing mode, the pads capacitively sense the proximity, velocity and acceleration of a user's fingers depressing their associated keys and output signals useable by the computer to display the character associated with the depressed key. A sensed increased stroke velocity of each manually depressed key may be used to alter the key character image displayed on the screen, for example capitalizing, bolding or underlining the character.

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.

Abstract: A pointing device according to the present invention includes a trackball embedded in the case of a computer display. The trackball is placed adjacent to the display and the select buttons for the trackball are located on the backside of the display case behind the trackball. The user guides the trackball with his thumb and pushes the select buttons on the backside of the case with his index and middle fingers, allowing the user to operate the pointing device with only one hand. Alternatively, the trackball is embedded in the corner of the keyboard of a desktop system, with the select buttons on the opposite side of the keyboard behind the trackball. With the keyboard standing on legs, the user's fingers can reach the two select buttons opposite the trackball to operating the pointing device.

Abstract: A pointing device according to the present invention includes a trackball embedded in the case of a computer display. The trackball is placed adjacent to the display and the select buttons for the trackball are located on the backside of the display case behind the trackball. The user guides the trackball with his thumb and pushes the select buttons on the backside of the case with his index and middle fingers, allowing the user to operate the pointing device with only one hand. Alternatively, the trackball is embedded in the corner of the keyboard of a desktop system, with the select buttons on the opposite side of the keyboard behind the trackball. With the keyboard standing on legs, the user's fingers can reach the two select buttons opposite the trackball to operating the pointing device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructive inspection of oilfield piping includes first and second pole pieces and a electromagnetic core therebetween for emitting a unidirectional magnetic flux field into the piping. A plurality of detector shoes each house a flux leakage coil assembly and a corresponding eddy current coil assembly. Circuits receive, process and transmit signals from the individual flux leakage coil assemblies to the surface. At the surface each signal is processed individually to provide indications of mass loss and/or gain as detected by each flux leakage coil assembly.