Cursor control mechanism
First Claim
1. A hand-controlled mechanism for producing signals to move the position of a cursor in a computer display, the mechanism comprising:
- shaft means having an elongated axis;
a plurality of conductor means wrapped about said shaft means;
drive means for applying an energizing signal to a sequence of said conductor means;
cylindrical means mounted on said shaft means and moveable about and along said shaft means in both rotational and translational directions, said cylindrical means provided with conductive plate means which overlap a plurality of said conductor means, said conductive plate means acting to couple an energizing signal applied to a conductor means to other conductor means overlapped by said conductive plate means; and
decoder means for sensing said coupled energizing signals and providing an output indicative of the position of said cylindrical means to accordingly control said cursor position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-controlled mechanism is described for producing signals to move the position of a cursor in a computer display. The mechanism includes a shaft with an elongated axis. A plurality of conductors are wrapped around the shaft and a cylindrical member is mounted for both rotary and lateral movements along the shaft. Signal drivers are provided for applying an energizing signal to a sequence of the conductors. The cylindrical member is provided with conductive plates which overlap a plurality of the conductors, the plates acting to couple an energizing signal applied to one conductor to other conductors which are overlapped by the plates. A decoder senses the coupled energizing signals and provides an output indicative of the position of the cylindrical member to accordingly control a cursor'"'"'s position. In a preferred embodiment, first and second conductor groups are helically wrapped about the shaft in opposite directions and with orthogonal pitches. By comparing the outputs from conductive plates which are juxtaposed to both wrapped conductor groups, the change of position of the cylindrical member can be accurately determined for cursor control purposes.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A hand-controlled mechanism for producing signals to move the position of a cursor in a computer display, the mechanism comprising:
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shaft means having an elongated axis; a plurality of conductor means wrapped about said shaft means; drive means for applying an energizing signal to a sequence of said conductor means; cylindrical means mounted on said shaft means and moveable about and along said shaft means in both rotational and translational directions, said cylindrical means provided with conductive plate means which overlap a plurality of said conductor means, said conductive plate means acting to couple an energizing signal applied to a conductor means to other conductor means overlapped by said conductive plate means; and decoder means for sensing said coupled energizing signals and providing an output indicative of the position of said cylindrical means to accordingly control said cursor position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A hand-controlled mechanism for producing signals to move the position of an indicator in a computer display, the mechanism comprising:
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shaft means having an elongated axis; a first plurality of conductor means wrapped about said shaft means; a second plurality of conductor means wrapped about said shaft means; drive means for applying an energizing signal to a sequence of said conductor means in each said first and second plurality of conductor means; cylindrical means mounted on said shaft means and rotatable about and movable along said shaft means, said cylindrical means provided with first and second conductive plate means, said first conductive plate means overlapping a plurality of said first conductor means, and said second conductive plate means overlapping a plurality of said second conductor means, both said first and second conductive plate means acting to couple, respectively, an energizing signal applied to a conductor means to other overlapped conductor means; and decoder means connectable to said conductor means into which said drive signal is coupled for sensing said coupled energizing signals and providing outputs to accordingly control the position of said indicator. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification