Cursor movement control key switch

• US 4,931,781 A
• Filed: 02/17/1987
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyakawa, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HJERPE, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US07/016,480
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/709-712, 340/706, 340/365 A, 340/365 R, 200/5 R, 200/6BB, 200/18, 200/176, 200/177
• US Class Current: 345/160
• 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 cursor movement control key switch for controlling movement of a cursor on a display screen of a CRT or the like requires only one key. Operation of a single key allows both control of the direction of the cursor, and control of brightness of the display, volume level of sounds at a speaker, a display size of the cursor or the like. A CPU periodically detects the states of signals at terminals corresponding to contacts disposed in the key switch so as to produce signals to perform the above control operations. The key switchy provides improved operability.

Claims

1. A cursor movement control key comprising:

a key top mounted for displacement in a plane and for depression movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane;

a plurality of first balls mounted to be moved by the movement of said key top in said plane;

a plurality of second balls mounted to be moved by depression movement of said key top in the direction perpendicular to said plane;

a plurality of first detection means for detecting the displacement of said plurality of first balls; and

a plurality of second detection means for detecting the displacement of said plurality of second balls.

2. A cursor movement control key according to claim 1, further comprising cursor control means for moving a cursor in accordance with a direction of movement of said key top detected by the first detection means.

3. A cursor movement control key according to claim 1, further comprising control means for changing the size of a cursor in accordance with a depression movement of said key top detected by the second detection means.

4. A cursor movement control key according to claim 1, further comprising means for returning said key top to a normal position in the plane and from depressed movement.