Slide pad notebook pointing device with sealed spring system
First Claim
1. A pointing device comprising:
- a stage comprising top and bottom surfaces, said stage having a field of motion defined thereon;
a top puck that moves over said top surface in response to a lateral force being applied thereto, said top puck comprising a first magnetic coupling member;
a bottom puck that moves under said bottom surface, said bottom puck comprising a second magnetic coupling member, said first and second magnetic coupling members acting to cause said bottom puck to move in response to a change in location of said top puck such that said top and bottom pucks remain in a predetermined relative location with respect to one another; and
a position sensor that generates a signal indicative of a location of said bottom puck.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device having top and bottom pucks that move on a stage is disclosed. The top puck moves over the top surface of the stage in response to a lateral force applied thereto. The top and bottom pucks are magnetically coupled such that the two pucks maintain a predetermined relative position with respect to one another. A position sensor generates a signal indicative of the location of the bottom puck. The pointing device can also include a pressure signal generator that generates a user present signal if the top puck is subjected to a force greater than a first force level. The determined pressure can also be used to simulate a button being pushed. Exemplary pressure signal generators utilize strain gauges, variable capacitors in the top puck, and circuits for detecting the vertical distance between the top and bottom pucks when the top puck includes a deformable member.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pointing device comprising:
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a stage comprising top and bottom surfaces, said stage having a field of motion defined thereon;
a top puck that moves over said top surface in response to a lateral force being applied thereto, said top puck comprising a first magnetic coupling member;
a bottom puck that moves under said bottom surface, said bottom puck comprising a second magnetic coupling member, said first and second magnetic coupling members acting to cause said bottom puck to move in response to a change in location of said top puck such that said top and bottom pucks remain in a predetermined relative location with respect to one another; and
a position sensor that generates a signal indicative of a location of said bottom puck. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for inputting data to a device having a display thereon, said method comprising:
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providing a stage having top and bottom surfaces. providing a top puck that moves over said top surface in response to a lateral force being applied thereto;
coupling said top puck to a bottom puck that moves under said bottom surface;
determining a location for said bottom puck; and
moving a cursor on said display in a manner that depends on said determined location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification