Pointing device

• US 20050099391A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nagano Fujitsu Component Limited
• Original Assignee: Nagano Fujitsu Component Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Kazuo, Nakamura, Shuji, Nishino, Takeshi, Kiryu, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

A pointing device including a base section, an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, a magnet carried on one of the base section and the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other of the base section and the operating section at a location close to the magnet. The operating section includes a first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and supported on the base section shiftably in a desired horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to the first part and elastically biasing the first part toward a home position in a horizontal shifting range during a period when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part of the operating section is provided integrally with a major portion substantially surrounding an entire circumference of the first part, a first connecting portion connected to the first part at one end of the major portion and a second connecting portion connected to the base section at another end of the major portion; the major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section.

Claims

1. A pointing device, comprising:

a base section;

an operating section shiftably supported on said base section;

a magnet carried on said operating section;

a magneto-electro transducer carried on said base section at a location close to said magnet; and

a switch mechanism carried on said base and adapted to be actuated by a pressing operation of said operating section;

wherein said base includes a circuit board carrying said switch mechanism on a first side of said circuit board and positioning said switch mechanism at a location beneath said operating section;

wherein said magneto-electro transducer is mounted on a second side of said circuit board, opposite to said first side.

2. A pointing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operating section includes a holding part securely holding said magnet and shiftably supported on said base section, and an elastic part connected to said holding part and exerting an elastic force for returning said holding part to a home position in a shifting range, while accompanying a shifting operation of said holding part on said base section, and wherein said holding part and said elastic part are formed separately from and assembled to each other.

3. A portable information apparatus comprising:

a pointing device as set forth in claim 2;

and

a key panel including a plurality of key tops, said key panel being formed integrally with said elastic part of said operating section of said pointing device.