Computer command and pointing device with multi-axis engagement assembly

• US 5,268,675 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Garthwaite, Charlie, Narmuo, Kinzo, Paull, Mike M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US07/969,872
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706-711, 341/20, 341/22, 341/35, 400/717, 248/918, 178/18
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 13/04 Discharging the shaped articles discharging tubular articles after shaping B28B21/90; conveying systems for ceramic mouldings B65G49/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A computer command and pointing device that attaches directly to the computer or keyboard without the need for external electrical cables. A BallPoint™ mouse has a multi-axis mechanical engagement assembly that allows the mouse to be inserted into a recess in the computer or keyboard and have its weight fully supported by the engagement assembly. The engagement assembly provides tight mechanical coupling between the mouse and the recess, but permits the disconnection of the mouse if excessive force is applied to the mouse. The engagement assembly includes an electrical connector that permits the coupling of electrical signals between the mouse and the computer. The connector pins in the electrical connector are individually spring-loaded to allow the connector pins to recede into the electrical connector when force is applied. A mating electrical connector plate, mounted within the recess, is a flat plate made of an insulating material with electrically conductive pads on the surface thereof. The connector pins of the electrical connector electrically couple electrical signals between the mouse and the computer when the engagement assembly mechanically couples the mouse into the recess. The electrical connector does not require precise alignment of the engagement assembly when installing or removing the mouse. If excessive force is applied to the mouse, it disconnects from the recess without damaging the mouse or the computer.

Claims

1. A computer system using a command apparatus for entering commands into a computer, the system comprising:

a command apparatus housing;

a pointing device within said apparatus housing;

a selectively releasable mechanical engagement assembly fixed to said apparatus housing to mechanically couple said apparatus housing to the computer and release said apparatus housing from the computer;

a pair of spaced apart opposing side walls defining a recess in the computer;

a pair of flanges extending from said side walls, said flanges being adapted to mechanically retain the apparatus within said recess to mechanically couple the apparatus to the computer;

an electrical connection port within said recess to permit coupling of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when the apparatus is mechanically retained within said recess, said port comprising a flat surface made of electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive surfaces disposed on said flat surface in a single plane to make electrical contact with the apparatus; and

an electrical engagement assembly on the apparatus allowing the connection of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when said mechanical engagement assembly is mechanically coupled to the computer, said electrical engagement assembly providing electrical contact with said conductive surfaces in said single plane, whereby the apparatus may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the computer from a plurality of angles to permit said electrical signals to be coupled between the apparatus and the computer without the need for external electrical cables therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical engagement assembly contains a plurality of spring-loaded electrical connector pins, each of said pins being retractably mounted within said electrical engagement assembly to independently move longitudinally when pressure is applied to said pins.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive surfaces are flat surfaces on said electrically insulative flat surface.

4. The computer of claim 1 wherein said recess is located in a side wall of a computer keyboard, the apparatus being mechanically and electrically coupled to said computer keyboard.

5. A computer system using a command apparatus for entering commands into a computer, the system comprising:

a selectively releasable mechanical engagement assembly fixed to the apparatus to mechanically couple the apparatus to the computer and release the apparatus from the computer;

a pair of spaced apart opposing side walls defining a recess in the computer;

a pair of flanges extending from said side walls, said flanges being adapted to mechanically retain the apparatus within said recess to mechanically couple the apparatus to the computer;

an electrical connection port within said recess to permit coupling of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when the apparatus is mechanically retained within said recess, said port comprising a surface made of electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive portions disposed with a planar arrangement on said surface to make electrical contact with the apparatus; and

an electrical engagement assembly on the apparatus allowing the connection of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when said mechanical engagement assembly is mechanically coupled to the computer, said electrical engagement assembly providing electrical contact with said conductive portions in a single plane, whereby the apparatus may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the computer from a plurality of angles to permit said electrical signals to be coupled between the apparatus and the computer without the need for external electrical cables therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said electrical engagement assembly contains a plurality of spring-loaded electrical connector pins, each of said pins being retractably mounted within said electrical engagement assembly to independently move longitudinally when pressure is applied to said pins.

7. The computer of claim 5 wherein said electrically conductive surfaces are flat surfaces on said electrically insulative flat surface.

8. The computer of claim 5 wherein said recess is located in a side wall of a computer keyboard, the apparatus being mechanically and electrically coupled to said computer keyboard.

9. A computer designed to receive a computer pointing and command apparatus, the computer pointing apparatus having an electrical connector containing a plurality of mating electrical conductors to electrically couple the pointing and command apparatus to the computer, allowing the direct connection of electrical signals between the pointing and command apparatus and the computer, the computer comprising:

a pair of spaced apart opposing side walls defining a recess in the computer;

a pair of flanges extending from said side walls, said flanges being adapted to mechanically retain the pointing and command apparatus within said recess to mechanically couple the pointing and command apparatus to the computer; and

an electrical connection port within said recess to permit coupling of electrical signals between the computer and the pointing and command apparatus when the pointing and command apparatus is mechanically retained within said recess, said port comprising a surface made of electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive portions disposed with a planar arrangement on said surface to make electrical contact with the mating electrical connectors on the pointing and command apparatus.

10. The computer of claim 9 wherein said electrically conductive surfaces are flat surfaces on said electrically insulative flat surface.

11. The computer of claim 9 wherein said recess is located in a side wall of a computer keyboard, the pointing and command apparatus being mechanically and electrically coupled to said computer keyboard.

12. A computer command apparatus for entering commands into a computer, the computer having a mating connector designed to couple electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus, the mating connector comprising a surface made of electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive portions disposed with a planar arrangement on the surface to make electrical contact with the pointing and command apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a pointing device within said housing;

a selectively releasable mechanical engagement assembly fixed to said housing to mechanically couple said housing to the computer and release said housing from the computer; and

an electrical engagement assembly allowing the connection of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when said mechanical engagement assembly is mechanically coupled to the computer, said electrical engagement assembly providing electrical contact with the mating electrical connector in the single plane, whereby the apparatus may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the computer at a plurality of angles at which said mechanical engagement assembly initially contacts the computer to permit said electrical signals to be coupled between the apparatus and the computer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electrical engagement assembly contains a plurality of spring-loaded electrical connector pins, each of said pins being retractably mounted within said electrical engagement assembly to independently move longitudinally when pressure is applied to said pins.

14. A computer command apparatus for entering commands into a computer, the computer having a mating connector designed to couple electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus, the mating connector comprising a surface made of electrically insulative material and a plurality of electrically conductive portions disposed with a planar arrangement on the surface to make electrical contact with the pointing and command apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a selectively releasable mechanical engagement assembly fixed to the apparatus to mechanically couple the apparatus to the computer and release the apparatus from the computer; and

an electrical engagement assembly allowing the connection of electrical signals between the computer and the apparatus when said mechanical engagement assembly is mechanically coupled to the computer, said electrical engagement assembly providing electrical contact with the mating electrical connector in the single plane, whereby the apparatus may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the computer at a plurality of angles to permit said electrical signals to be coupled between the apparatus and the computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said electrical engagement assembly contains a plurality of spring-loaded electrical connector pins, each of said pins being retractably mounted within said electrical engagement assembly to independently move longitudinally when pressure is applied to said pins.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of electrical connector pins comprise first, second, third, fourth, and fifth electrical connector pins, said first and fourth electrical connector pins being positioned across from each other on a first diagonal, and said second and third electrical connector pins being positioned across from each other on a second diagonal in a generally rectangular pattern, said fifth electrical connector pin being positioned at an intersection of said first and second diagonals.