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Pen-type computer input device

  • US 5,159,321 A
  • Filed: 08/17/1990
  • Issued: 10/27/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A pen-type computer input device comprising:

  • a shank having a tip end;

    a pen nib disposed on said tip end, said pen nib having a ball rotatably supported therein and an ink chamber for transferring ink around said ball to a surface against which the ball is held, in response to rotation of said ball; and

    sensor means disposed in said tip end and held in contact with the ink in said ink chamber, for detecting the direction in which said ball rotates and the distance by which said ball moves, based on a displacement caused by a viscous flow of ink in response to rotation of said ball, and for producing an output signal representative of the direction in which said ball rotates and the distance by which said ball moves;

    said sensor means comprising a silicon substrate, two springs mounted on said silicon substrate and movable in two respective perpendicular directions in a plane, and detecting means for detecting said displacement as displacements of said springs, and two springs and said detecting means being formed on said silicon substrate by silicon semiconductor fabrication.

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