Cursor control device

• US 20110037693A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Contour Design Incorporated, Hsu Liang
• Original Assignee: Ektouch Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Chiang, Hsiao-Long
• Application Number:
  US12/662,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037693A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A cursor control device is disclosed to include a hollow elongated circuit module holder having a top opening, a sleeve sleeved onto the circuit module holder and movable leftwards and rightwards and rotatable forwards and backwards relative to the circuit module without friction and a circuit module accommodated in the circuit module holder and adapted for sensing the direction and amount of movement of the sleeve relative to the circuit module holder and producing a signal indicative of the direction and amount of movement of the sleeve relative to the circuit module holder for controlling a cursor on a display screen of an electronic device.

Claims

1. A cursor control device adapted for controlling a cursor on a display screen of an electronic device, comprising:

a circuit module holder, said circuit module holder having an accommodation chamber defined therein and an opening on a top side thereof in communication with said accommodation chamber;

a sleeve sleeved onto said circuit module holder and movable leftwards and rightwards relative to said circuit module and rotatable forwards and backwards relative to said circuit module;

a circuit module accommodated in said accommodation chamber of said circuit module holder, said circuit module comprising a circuit board, a sensor module installed in said circuit board and adapted for sensing the direction and amount of movement of said sleeve relative to said circuit module holder and producing a signal indicative of the direction and amount of movement of said sleeve relative to said circuit module holder, and a microprocessor installed in said circuit board and electrically connected with said sensor module for receiving the signal produced by said sensor module and producing a control signal for controlling said cursor on said display screen subject to the signal received from said sensor module.

2. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit module holder comprises:

a first holder shell, said first holder shell having a plurality of limiters;

a second holder shell disposed above said first holder shell, said second holder shell having a plurality of stop members downwardly extended from a bottom wall thereof and respectively aimed at said limiters of said first holder shell; and

a plurality of elastic members adapted to support said second holder shell above said first holder shell for enabling said second holder shell to be moved vertically up and down relative to said first holder shell within a predetermined range.

3. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit module holder has a plurality of mounting portions suspending on the inside;

said circuit board of said circuit module has a plurality of mounting portions respectively fixedly fastened to the mounting portions of said circuit module holder.

4. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit module further comprises a transmission interface electrically connected with said microprocessor and adapted for transmitting said control signal to said electronic device to control said cursor on said display screen.

5. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said circuit module further comprises a control switch installed in said circuit board and electrically connected with said microprocessor operable to produce a triggering signal when said sleeve is pressed by the user.

6. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transmission interface is a wired transmission interface selected from a group of universal serial bus interface and PS2 keyboard/mouse interface.

7. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transmission interface is a wireless transmission interface selected from a group of infrared, Bluetooth and radio frequency transmission techniques.

8. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor module of said circuit module comprises a substrate, a light source mounted in said substrate adapted to emit light onto said sleeve, and a sensor adapted to detect reflected light from said sleeve.

9. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve defines an axial hole that receives said circuit module holder.

10. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing, said housing comprising a bottom shell, at least one cover shell covering said bottom shell, an accommodation chamber defined in between said bottom shell and said at least one cover shell for accommodating said circuit module and said sleeve for enabling said sleeve to be moved relative to said circuit module, said at least one cover shell each having a plurality of locating members symmetrically disposed near two distal ends thereof respectively fastened to respective locating members at said circuit module holder by fastening members.

11. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bottom shell has a plurality of first hook members symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, each said top cover shell has a plurality of second hook members respectively fastened to the male hook members of said bottom shell.

12. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bottom shell of said housing has two protruding blocks respectively located on two distal ends thereof;

said at least one top cover shell of said housing has two locating grooves respectively coupled to the two protruding blocks of said bottom shell.

13. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said circuit module holder has two support members fixedly fastened to a bottom wall thereof for positioning on a flat wall.

14. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said circuit module holder is formed of a first holder shell and a second holder shell and shaped like a hollow bar.

15. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said circuit module holder is prepared from a self-lubricating material selected from the group consisting of polyoxymetylene (POM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

16. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sleeve is prepared from one of the materials of mesh fabric and nonwoven fabric.

17. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sleeve is prepared from one of the materials of plastics and rubber.

18. The cursor control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sleeve is prepared from leather.